Variety has reviewed 'The Fox,' a black comedy directed by Dario Russo that premiered in SXSW's Narrative Spotlight section. The Australian film from Causeway Films stars Jai Courtney and Emily Browning as couples in an outback town, observed by gossipy talking animals voiced by Olivia Colman and Sam Neill. Reviewer notes its shrewd conception but critiques occasional overload of ideas.
Dario Russo's feature debut 'The Fox' screened at SXSW on March 10, 2026, at the UTA Screening Room in Los Angeles, running 90 minutes. Produced by Causeway Films—the team behind 'The Babadook' and 'Talk To Me'—the film is set in a small Australian outback town where friends and love interests are scarce, leading to marriages of convenience among two discontented couples. Emily Browning plays Kori, who eyes a pile of greasy pub food with contempt while her boyfriend Nick (Jai Courtney), son of the town's wealthiest landowner, proposes amid her affair with coworker Derek (Damon Herriman), whose wife Diana is played by Claudia Doumit. Surrounding wildlife, including a fox voiced by Olivia Colman and a magpie by Sam Neill, gossip about human affairs. A central magical ditch allows depositing lovers to emerge more malleable to partners' desires, adding to the film's fanciful tone and filthy humor. Russo wrote, directed, edited, and composed the score featuring squawking brass and skittish strings; animatronics portray the animals. The review praises the film's meticulous plotting, amusing ideas, and committed performances by Browning and Courtney, who explores wounded masculinity. It notes a strong handle on tone but faults occasional excess of ideas and sporadic returns to core concepts, like introductory narration on human misery from Colman's fox. Additional cast includes Miranda Otto. Production involves producers Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings, and Carly Maple, with executives including Courtney, Browning, and Russo. Camera by Matthew Chuang.
