Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: F#CKTOYS [SXSW Film 2025 - Austin, Texas]
The essence of movie like "F#cktoys" [Narrative Feature Compeition] can be misled by its title. It has the range of being a unique approach to an altered world erotic thriller but works better in a mythic/almost odyssey of a woman lost in time. The scripting of the film is very unique though it does need to make its leaps in disbelief. Annapurna Sriram as AP is mesmerizing at times because as the writer/director but also a lead with a significant degree of allure, she knows the balance. The movie set in what is called Trashtown but relates in the fact that it is Baton Rouge and the surrounding area. It has that underbelly and yet a mystical beauty to it. The film did have the possibility to jump down into camp or an exploitation movie but there are these moments of realness that undeniably transform the picture. It is blatant and vulgar at times and yet it ratchets up the sakes with moment of entrancement and lyricism. In the Q&a it did help to know that most of the film was based on the structure of tarot cards though it could easily have been Dante's Inferno.
Even though "F#cktoys" does get a little indulgent, Sriram has a very steady hand with interesting small scenes and certain acts almost of kindness in AP that seem very out of place in that world and yet it grounds it and feels right. AP is not being altruistic. That is just who she is. And Sriram says AP represents the Tarot card of The Fool. But, in this way, it tends to work in the aspect of the stakes with the balance in Sadie Scott as AP's friend who is finding her way but also is not taking any crap. While the path AP takes is roundabout, what she is really chasing is control because she believes she is under a curse. The opening scene establishes this but, in all seriousness, that idea is besides the point. The opening prologue could be taken away and make the movie even more mythic and more grounded. Same with one part of the ending which involves floating.
"F#cktoys" is a neat debut but would need some adjustment to make it really ready for cinemas. But there are flickers of absolute beauty and depth at points. The different underbellies and truth between affairs and the context of sex work as a lifestyle is quite dynamic because it is just that in this slightly adjusted world, it is part of life...and not frowned upon. This is not supposed to be totally serious but it is not supposed to be totally camp either. At one point, AP and Sadie are sitting in a strip club and a certain story comes through that that plays into the end of the film but its preciseness brings a certain progression of intent that is quite classic even if the scenario is not. While part of the ending has a diametric reasoning to it, it does stay in your mind simply because of its establishment, its environment and a character AP must go up against. "F#cktoys" is an interesting and vivid movie which does stay with viewer afterwards and yet has its own originality in a world where everything is a copy. A-
By Tim Wassberg
