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At SXSW, Alex Prager’s 'DreamQuil' Wins Style Praise, Faces Story Critiques

The feature debut now seeks U.S. distribution following festival notices.

Overview

  • Premiering in SXSW’s Narrative Spotlight, the 89‑minute film marks photographer Alex Prager’s first feature.
  • Early reviews highlight meticulous retro‑futurist design and color work, with IndieWire grading it B‑.
  • Other notices are cooler, including a 2/5 from Film Festival Today and a pan from FandomWire.
  • Elizabeth Banks stars as Carol and also portrays her AI lookalike, opposite John C. Reilly as her husband.
  • Set in a near‑future of polluted air and virtual living, the story follows a wellness procedure that leaves a robotic double at home, with critics citing underdeveloped themes.