SICK
Agata Trzebuchowska’s Fantastic Fest 2026 film Sick is just that. The story follows sixteen-year-old Maks and his nineteen-year-old sister Emma as they spend an isolated summer with their ailing grandmother. Maks is stuck between a sexual awakening and childhood reminiscence. He grew up spending lazy days on the lake, exploring the forest trails, and playing with Emma alongside his doting grandmother.
Now, with Gran suffering from a mysterious illness and Emma creating an increasingly aggressive and inappropriate dynamic in the house, everyone’s behavior intensifies. Emma actively flirts with Maks, testing his self-control. Her power trip does not end with Maks. She treats Gran as a nonverbal prop to bait her brother into risky behavior.
Two bizarre plotlines play out simultaneously: a brother-sister scenario that creeps you out and a grandmother transforming into something completely unknown. Somehow Trzebuchowska weaves the two together seamlessly. Gran’s health improves. Maks and Emma go deeper down the rabbit hole. Their health begins to deteriorate. Gran is acting weird… and leaving strange goo in her wake.
Tomasz Kajetan Naruszewicz’s editing is spectacular. The lighting is stunning. Maciej Edelman’s music and camerawork are jarring. Performances are mind-blowing. Katarzyna Łubik is enthralling as Emma. She has the audience in a chokehold. Nonrad Kąkol gives Maks a beautiful balance between innocent puppy dog and weak-willed hormone monster. It’s a gorgeous turn.
SICK is unrelenting. Fantastic Fest audiences are done for. Sick tells viewers that when you break the laws of nature, all bets are off. It’s a jaw-dropping film. It obliterates rational boundaries. Akin to a car crash. You cannot look away.
SICK
Feature Film (Poland)
(World Premiere, 2026, 90 mins, In Polish with English subtitles)
(Drama/ Horror)
Directed and written by: Agata Trzebuchowska
Producers: Patryk Sielecki, Adrianna Rędzia
Starring: Konrad Kąkol, Katarzyna Łubik, Monika Niemczyk, Julian Świeżewski, And Eliza Rycembel.
FANTASTIC FEST 2026 OFFICIAL SCREENINGS
Location: Alamo Drafthouse Lamar
Address: 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
Friday, Sept 18 at 5:30PM (Theater 6)
Thursday, Sept 24 at 5:45PM (Theater 6)
Thursday, Sept 24 at 5:45PM (Theater 7)
For all things Fantasia 2024, 
Save one or two, a group predominantly of elitist little shits wage war against the weaker for power. To no one’s surprise, these kids could not care less about following the religious aspects of the camp’s intentions, instead actively torturing the child with the darkest skin. Perhaps the saddest part is how the hatred spreads so quickly.
Outside the inner workings of the boys, there is a grander racism playing out beyond the chain link fence of the camp. A hole brings fear that an outsider has infiltrated the grounds. Slowly, we discover the nefarious intentions of the staff, the indoctrination of following orders, and never questioning authority.
The film plays out in two distinct acts. Once in the woods, the fractures widen, and smaller groups become exceedingly hostile. This Lord Of The Flies meets The Village script is exhilarating. My nerves almost could not take it. Performances are extraordinary. The film speaks to a growing global evil in Christofascism, sexual abuse in the church, and the destruction of otherness. A HOLE IN THE FENCE displays toxic masculinity at its core. It is a sick test and focuses on the myth of manhood. It is a microcosm, and we should all be afraid.
Sporadic blue-tinged purgatory-like flashbacks of the woman in her heels, mussed blonde hair, and filthy trench coat give us little to go on. These sequences are undeniably unsettling. For most of the film, we draw our own conclusions based on the apparent hollowness of their marriage and a suggestion of an affair. Jakub Kijowski‘s bleak, but ravishing, cinematography sets the tone. Alicja stands apart from most of the action, furthering the feeling of isolation in an already stark environment. 
Iwo Rajski plays Daniel with a natural fierceness that suggests he is starring in a documentary rather than a narrative. He is fantastic. Gabriela Muskala pens the screenplay and plays Alicja/Kinga. Her ability to reel you into her turmoil feels effortless. She is magnetic.
Up close, hand-held camera work intensifies the manic energy that radiates from this cast. This tragic and explosive story stems from a hit-and-run. With the world in upheaval over police action, this film focuses on the reactions of a small town department. When the mysterious driver flees on foot, chaos reigns when the incident becomes personal. The performances are astonishing. The screenplay is genius. You’re getting multiple narrative stories by watching the reactions of family, coworkers, and onlookers all at once. A naive rookie, a Chief close to retirement, hooligans in the crowd, a female officer’s first day, those connected to the victims, and a villain so loathsome your head will spin. These characters simultaneously clash in Supernova as events play out in real-time. There is not a moment to breathe. The quietest moment is the opening shot. Once the actors enter the frame the energy ramps up and become increasingly intense. Writer-director Bartosz Kruhlik plays with empathy and power dynamics in such an intelligent way. The complexity of the story just keeps growing. Your heart will race, you’ll seethe with anger, Supernova is that good.
of *
Simply beautiful cinematography and one hell of a leading performance consume the audience in BAM’s Kino Polska’s New York premiere of NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN. Alec Utgoff as Zhenia gives an intoxicating performance. There’s something about his gaze that puts you at ease. You’re fully aware there’s a complexity tied to his childhood in Chernobyl. The dialogue from his clients never lets you forget. The nuance of this role is enthralling. The darker mystery slowly makes its way to light as he does his massage and, unbeknownst to them, hypnosis on his clients. They reside in a wealthy, gated estate outside the city. From the outside, each house essentially a replica of the next. Inside, the residents gossip and confess their trauma and innermost thoughts. Sinister undertones always linger. Zhenia’s unique ability to connect with people is merely the beginning of his capabilities. That talent isn’t something that can be hidden indefinitely. The score is haunting and meaningful, heightening this carefully crafted film. Trust me when I say, this movie is special. You’ll be as hypnotized as Zhenia’s clients. NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN is bursting with endless intrigue. It’s a journey that you will never see coming.
of *
From Friday, April 30th through Thursday, May 6th BAM presents the fourth edition
I NEVER CRY
MR. JONES
KILL IT AND LEAVE THIS TOWN
EASTERN
THE TASTE OF PHO
Werewolf is incredible from the very first frame. The fear is visceral in the visual presentation but especially in the performances from a cast of children. This is a new version of Lord Of The Flies as a group of Holocaust survivors lies in wait as they are stalked by attack dogs, and even one of their own. Hormones, trauma, hunger, and anger, all drive this riveting plot forward. It is easy to root for these kids. As a Mom, it made my heart race at every turn. I was sweating watching their ingenuity. Survival is not guaranteed especially when the threat comes from within. It was profound watching these young actors, at times, become as wild as the dogs they feared. Other scenes momentarily allowed them to be children again. This ensemble casts’ chemistry will blow you away. Adrian Panek has given us a thrilling gem. The writing is intelligent and enthralling. Your heart will be in your throat from beginning to end.
You must be logged in to post a comment.