'Slanted' Stuns SXSW: Amy Wang's Horror Film Takes Top Prize
Olivia Bennett, 3/13/2025At SXSW 2025, Amy Wang's horror film "Slanted" wins top honors, captivating audiences with its exploration of racial identity through body horror. The festival also celebrated standout documentaries and groundbreaking performances, while showcasing a diverse range of bold storytelling and innovative technology.
SXSW 2025 wrapped up last weekend with a bang — and possibly a few nightmares, thanks to Amy Wang's skin-crawling triumph "Slanted." The provocative body horror film didn't just snag the Narrative Feature Competition award; it left audiences squirming in their seats and critics scrambling for comparisons.
Think "Mean Girls" meets "The Substance," as IndieWire rather cleverly put it. Though honestly, that barely scratches the surface of Wang's deeply personal examination of racial identity. The jury's praise for her "vulnerability in mining her personal experience" feels almost understated, given how the film manages to get under viewers' skin — both literally and metaphorically.
The festival buzzed with an electricity that hasn't been felt since the pre-pandemic glory days. Packed theaters, standing ovations, and more than a few walkouts (hey, it's not SXSW without a little controversy) marked this year's remarkably diverse lineup. Festival VP Claudette Godfrey couldn't contain her enthusiasm, and who could blame her? The energy was practically bouncing off the walls of Austin's historic venues.
Over in documentary territory, Benjamin Flaherty's "Shuffle" proved that sometimes the quietest films pack the hardest punch. His exposé of the addiction treatment industry's dark underbelly earned top documentary honors — and probably made more than a few recovery center CEOs nervous about their upcoming quarterly reports.
But perhaps the most fascinating story emerged from the Special Jury awards. Annapurna Sriram's "Fucktoys" (yes, that's really the title) showcased what happens when you let raw talent run wild. Directing, writing, producing, and starring in what the jury dubbed "an audacious cinematic experience" — well, let's just say Hollywood's old guard might want to take notes.
Speaking of Hollywood veterans, Amanda Peet reminded everyone why she's still a force to be reckoned with. Her turn in "Fantasy Life" as an actress finding unexpected connection with a manny (male nanny, for those who haven't kept up with the latest childcare terminology) earned her a Special Jury Award for Performance. Her "unsparing comic canniness" proves that sometimes the best roles come after 50 — take that, ageist casting directors.
The festival's embrace of cutting-edge technology continued to evolve, with Cameron Kostopoulos's "In the Current of Being" claiming the XR Experience Competition prize. Meanwhile, Chloé Lee's "Reflections of Little Red Dot" proved that open-world documentaries aren't just gaming industry buzzwords anymore.
And then there's Indy — the four-legged star of "Good Boy" who became the inaugural recipient of the Howl of Fame Award. Sure, it sounds gimmicky, but anyone who's seen this canine turn "everyday domestic spaces into realms of suspense and terror" knows the award was well-deserved. Move over, Lassie.
As the dust settles on SXSW 2025, all eyes are on "Slanted" and its distribution prospects. Wang's visceral vision might be too bold for mainstream theaters, but in an era where streaming platforms are desperate for distinctive content, don't be surprised if bidding wars erupt faster than you can say "body horror masterpiece."
The festival's commitment to fearless filmmaking hasn't just survived the streaming age — it's thriving in it. And if this year's lineup is any indication, the conversation about identity and belonging in American cinema is about to get a whole lot more interesting. Just maybe keep the popcorn at arm's length for some of these screenings.
