Julia Fox and newcomer Ashley Moore turn heads at SXSW with “Perfect,” a daring desert romance packed with heat, music and surprise moments.
At this year’s South by Southwest, a late-night crowd in Austin got more than just a film premiere — they got an experience.
The new indie romance Perfect, starring Julia Fox and rising actor Ashley Moore, made its world debut with a mix of humor, bold storytelling and unapologetic sensuality.
By the time the credits rolled, the audience had cheered, laughed and, at the request of the film’s star, perhaps left the theater feeling exactly how she hoped.
“Leave horny, people!” Moore joked to the packed house before the screening began.
Directed by Millicent Hailes — known previously for music videos for artists like Young Thug and Lil Yachty — “Perfect” marks her first narrative feature.
The film leans into a gritty, stylish tone while telling the story of two women who meet under unusual circumstances.
Moore plays Kai, a wandering drifter who finds herself stranded in a dusty desert town during a global clean-water shortage. There she meets Mallory, a mysterious and pregnant woman portrayed by Fox. What begins as curiosity between the two quickly turns into a complicated romance filled with emotional tension and unexpected twists.
Fox described the story as layered and complex during the premiere discussion.
“There’s so much nuance between these characters,” she told the audience, adding that the dynamic between Kai and Mallory could easily fill several films. She also praised her co-star, calling Moore’s performance proof that “a star is born.”
While the film includes plenty of provocative moments, it also uses atmosphere and music to shape its mood. Several of the movie’s key scenes are set to songs by FKA Twigs, whose pulsing electronic tracks underscore the intensity between the characters.
One of the central sequences unfolds beside a lake, accompanied by Twigs’ song “Eusexua,” which director Hailes said deeply inspired the scene.
Before the screening began, Hailes encouraged the audience to react openly.
“If you see something you love, give me a ‘woo,’” she said. “If you hate something, give me an ‘ooh.’ This is not a polite film.”
The invitation worked. When Kai and Mallory finally share their first kiss, the crowd erupted into cheers.
The cast also includes Lío Mehiel, Micaela Wittman, Ryder McLaughlin, Kate Moennig and Creed Bratton. With no distributor yet attached, “Perfect” is currently seeking buyers at SXSW — and based on the buzz inside the theater, it may not stay on the market for long.
For Hailes, the mission was simple: make something bold, emotional and fun. Judging by the reaction in Austin, she may have succeeded.
