The film 'Perfect,' a steamy lesbian romance directed by Millicent Hailes and starring Julia Fox and Ashley Moore, made its world premiere at SXSW. The movie features explicit scenes including pregnant sex and panty sniffing, set against a backdrop of a global water shortage. Audience reactions were enthusiastic, with cheers during key moments.
At the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, the world premiere of 'Perfect' drew attention for its bold content. Directed by Millicent Hailes in her first narrative feature after music videos for artists like Lil Yachty and Young Thugs, the film stars Ashley Moore as Kai, a drifter stranded in a desert town amid a global shortage of clean water. There, she encounters the pregnant Mallory, played by Julia Fox, leading to a romance filled with twists, described by one character as a “total fucking MILF.” The story includes nudity, sex scenes, and a moment involving panty sniffing, emphasizing a sweaty, fun dynamic as Hailes put it: “It’s just hot, cunt, sexy, sweaty, fun.” Before the screening at the State Theatre, Hailes engaged the audience for live feedback, instructing them to “Woo” for loved elements, “Ooh” for hated ones, and clap for particularly hot scenes, noting, “This is not a polite film.” As Kai and Mallory shared their first kiss after a slow-burning introduction, the crowd erupted in cheers. Moore, in her debut lead role, urged the audience: “Leave horny, people! Leave horny.” Fox praised the film's depth, saying, “The amount of nuance in this film could be three films long,” and introduced Moore as “A star is born.” The soundtrack features FKA Twigs' dance songs, with “Eusexua” underscoring a pivotal lake scene; Hailes explained, “I really wanted some pivotal, poignant moments to be to those songs, because [‘Eusexua’] just really resonated with me.” Additional cast includes Lío Mehiel, Micaela Wittman, Ryder McLaughlin, Kate Moennig, and Creed Bratton. As a sales title at SXSW, Hailes is actively pitching it to buyers.
