The Serpent’s Skin
Alice Maio Mackay has established herself as a powerhouse in indie filmmaking, cranking out stylized horror films that capture your attention from the very first frame. In her 6th feature film, the 21-year-old trans director tackles queer horror romance. The Serpent’s Skin follows Anna, a young trans woman who finally left her judgmental parents and moved in with her sister in the city. But Anna’s meek exterior hides secret supernatural abilities she shares with her new lover and tattoo artist, Gen. Their passion accidentally summons a demon, making relationship building way more complicated.
Jordan Dulieu (Danny) gives us an emo rocker heartthrob and villainous mayhem with equal fire. He is genuinely mesmerizing. Avalon Fast (Gen) is great. Her delivery is so natural, you might think she’s in a documentary. Alexandra McVicker (Anna) brings innocent ingénue energy. The three have stellar chemistry. I not-so-secretly wanted a threesome scene between them. Shout out to Intimacy Coordinator, Zoe Taylor, for the overall hotness. 
MacKay has a neon-saturated visual calling card and always provides a kick-ass soundtrack. Another genius collab with The Adams Family in H6LLB6ND6ER. Iris Mcerlean‘s costumes are all effortless cool girl. Mackay tackles self-harm, identity, sex, and magic; it’s a lot to balance. If I’m being nitpicky, the film’s pacing slows slightly in the second act, making it feel a bit long before the momentum picks up again in the final Act, which cooks. High five to my girl, Vera Drew, for her editing. Can we discuss the connection between power and orgasm? Yes. The final two lines of The Serpent’s Skin are smirkworthy perfection.
The Serpent’s Skin Trailer:
Opening in:
New York, March 27 | Los Angeles, April 3
** With filmmaker and special guests in attendance **
More dates below & to be announced
85 mins / Australia / 2025
Directed by: Alice Maio Mackay
Written by: Alice Maio Mackay, Benjamin Pahl Robinson
Produced by: Alice Maio Mackay, Louise Weard
Starring: Alexandra McVicker, Avalon Fast, Jordan Dulieu, Scott Major, Charlotte Chimes
Edited by: Vera Drew
Cinematography by: Aaron Schuppan
Composers: Alexander Taylor, Eduardo Daniel Victoria
Music by: H6LLB6ND6ER
Festivals: Beyond Fest, BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival, Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, Frightfest, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, NewFest – The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, SXSW Sydney, and more
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Dark Star Pictures has released the new theatrical trailer for Alice Maio Mackay’s The Serpent’s Skin ahead of its upcoming North American theatrical release, which kicks off on March 27 in New York City and on April 3 in Los Angeles.
At only 21-years-old, the trans Australian filmmaker has announced herself as a talent to watch, and her latest film had a celebrated world premiere at San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ film festival Frameline and enjoyed a buzzy run with stops at Beyond Fest, Fantasia Film Festival, London’s Frightfest, NewFest, and more.
The Serpent’s Skin is Maio Mackay’s most ambitious film to date, combining her distinct filmmaking voice—known for channeling genre tropes through a trans lens, her innovative approach to aesthetics, and a unique wit—with a larger scope that leans into a darker storyline and a loving influence of 90s cult television like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed.
The film will open in New York at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn on March 27 and in Los Angeles at the Alamo Drafthouse DTLA on April 3—as part of a special Fantastic Fest Presents showcase—with Mackay and special guests in attendance for opening nights.
Additional screenings with director Q&As include the Roxie Theater in San Francisco on April 2 and Vidiots in Los Angeles on 4/4, with further cities and dates to be announced.
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