One of the great things about film festivals is that you sometimes see films you might have otherwise skipped. When I heard O’Dessa described as a “post-apocalyptic, sci-fi rock-opera,” I thought that sounded too weird to be good. I was wrong. It was mesmerizing.
O’Dessa, which streams on Hulu beginning March 20, premiered as part of the 2025 edition of the SXSW Conference and Festivals.
The O’Dessa Story
O’Dessa, a farm girl, lives with her aging mother in a world reminiscent of Mad Max. Circumstances force her to make the decision to journey to the mysterious and dangerous Satylite City. This city, with poverty, drugs and prostitution, stands in vivid contrast to the simplicity of her county life.
A psychotic tyrant named Plutonovich rules Satylite City. Despite the horrors there, O’Dessa finds love and a family heirloom. Ultimately she must face Plutonovich in a life-or-death confrontation.
One of the things that impressed me about the film’s power was a critical moment near the end when the heroine’s fate is unknown and the screen goes blank. During those seconds of tension, in Austin’s Paramount Theatre which seats over a thousand people, you could have heard a pin drop. The entire audience was captivated. They desperately wanted to know O’Dessa’s fate.
Making Movie Art
The power of this film comes from the vision of writer/director Geremy Jasper and the amazing acting and musical talents of its star, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, The Whale).
The origins of this story go way back into the dark corners of Jasper’s mind. During the Q&A after the film he recalled that although he had been working on the film for seven years, he imagined the characters and story 20 years ago. He credited his love of Mad Max and other films it inspired such as Brazil and Labyrinth for tickling his imagination.
Sink’s dedication to the role and especially to the music of the rock opera also deserve credit for making the film powerful.
Jasper had praise for Sink. “I see the music as the cornerstone of the storytelling,” he said. “The final song is the one I especially remember. I didn’t know if she had any gas left in the tank. She dug so deep for that performance.”
Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays O’Dessa’s boyfriend Euri Dervish, also took part in the Q&A. He, too, had praise for Sink and her work on the guitar. “There were times,” he said, “that I would look at her fingers and they were bleeding. And she didn’t know they were bleeding.”
The film’s visuals also will amaze you. Check out the trailer at the end of this article.
Future of SXSW
Next year’s SXSW will take place March 12 through 18. You can find out more at their website or on X, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
SXSW, long a part of the culture of Austin, Texas, has expanded into other parts of the world. The Asia Pacific region has enjoyed SXSW Sydney since 2023. Later this year, European movie, music, and tech creatives can experience SXSW London. The conference promises that each of these events will have its own special flavor.
The post SXSW 2025 Film Review: ‘O’Dessa’ Premiere Captivates with Drama, Music and Sadie Sink appeared first on Blogcritics.