Running Time: 68 Minutes
Starring: Sara Thompson, Scott Major, Annapurna Sriram, Jess McLeod, Karis Oka, Jordan Dulieu
You have to admire the work ethic of Alice Maio Mackay. Since the release of her first feature, 2021's So Vam, each passing year has seen the Australian filmmaker regularly deliver a new piece of independent filmmaking. As she is about to turn 22, the creative highlights her versatility with her seventh feature, Our Effed Up World.
The story follows Sheri (Sara Thompson), an aspiring astronomer who is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother. The arrival of a meteor shower brings with it a particularly green meteor, containing a mysterious entity which crash lands in the woods. As the creature seeks to satisfy its intergalactic hunger, it threatens the town with annihilation. All that stands in its way are Sheri and her video store friends.
When you look at Mackay's filmography, it is fascinating to see the various different styles that she has approached. T-Blockers brought a B-movie inflected queer rage, something that feels worlds away from The Serpent's Skin, which gave hangout vibes amidst superpowered self-discovery. Small-town toxicity was approached as a festive slasher in Carnage for Christmas, and demon-hunting took a road trip for Satranic Panic. It's a fascinating filmography that shows Mackay's willingness to try something new, and she mixes it up again with an introspective character drama told through an alien-invasion tale.
Grief has rocked the lives of Sheri and her father, Hank (Scott Major). While the latter has become introverted and focused on work, Sheri has grown numb and become easily angered. A memorable scene sees her long-simmering issues with her boyfriend rise to the surface, as she unleashes her frustrations upon him in unambiguous ways. Lesser hands could have left audiences struggling to sympathise with this lead, but Sara Thompson's wonderful performance brings alive the character's struggles written by Mackay and Ben Pahl Robinson.
Sheri struggles with the unfair nature of death, so tries taking on this alien threat herself to avoid losing anybody else. Loss has left her taking the wrong lessons, yet that does not prevent this "solo mission" from feeling like a less-than-welcome trope to delay the inevitable unity. Luckily, it is easy to believe in their shared bonds courtesy of the effective chemistry. This support group is all that can bring Sheri back from isolation, serving as the beating heart of this tale.
Adding to the style is a terrific electronic score, decent practical effects, and eye-catching visuals that are distinctively highlighted in blue and green colours. Admittedly, the aliens themselves work better as allegories for the characters troubles, as the scenes of them attacking rarely feels menacing or threatening. Add to that a welcome 68-minute runtime, and Our Effed Up World makes for an effective character drama which blends aliens and grief.
Our Effed Up World made its Canadian Premiere at Fantasia Festival 2026
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