American Woman

American Woman, directed by Artie Seigel, is a moody and slow-burning character study that blends a bit of psychological drama with a revenge thriller. Based around on a grieving doctor pushed into a violent criminal underworld, the film shines most in its raw emotional tone and the committed performance of Katelin Stack. Her portrayal gives the story a grounded emotional core that anchors the more surreal and stylized moments.

The direction is confident, often using some murky, intimate visuals that mirror the protagonist's unraveling state of mind. However, the film's pacing may test viewers' patience-particularly in the first act, which lingers a bit too long before the central plot kicks in. The supporting characters, while intriguing, could use a bit of development, making some late-story turns feel less impactful than they should.

Still, American Woman offers a distinct voice and a compelling arc, even if not all risks pay off. It's a smart, brooding film with a few rough edges-ultimately a solid 7.5 or 8/10.

American Woman (2025) is a bold, if flawed, attempt at indie filmmaking that strives for emotional depth but stumbles over its own ambition. Filmed on a shoestring budget, this drama attempts to chart the inner life of a struggling mother in rural America-but never quite finds its footing.

The most immediate challenge is the acting. Performances across the board feel wooden and unconvincing, with dialogue often delivered in flat, uninflected tones. It's clear that the cast lacked the experience or direction needed to elevate the material, and unfortunately, that lack of polish makes it difficult to invest in the characters' journeys.

Visually, the film has a raw, unfiltered aesthetic that could have worked in its favor, echoing the realism of early John Cassavetes or Kelly Reichardt's quiet portraits of working-class life. However, inconsistent lighting, awkward camera angles, and occasional audio issues distract from the atmosphere the director is clearly aiming for.

Where American Woman does deserve credit is in its heart. The story-centered around perseverance in the face of economic hardship-is timely and earnest. There are glimpses of genuine emotion, especially in moments where silence and stillness do the heavy lifting. The screenplay, while occasionally overwritten, contains kernels of sharp social commentary that hint at what this film could have been with a more experienced team and a bit more budget.

In the end, American Woman (2025) is a commendable effort that doesn't quite deliver. It serves as a reminder that passion can't always compensate for execution-but it's also proof that even flawed films can carry sparks of something real.

American Woman 2025 represents a new disturbing trend in product marketing, generally. Knowing in advance that the quality of the final product will be less than expected, the creators/makers pre-budget an excessive amount for post-production promotion, relying on influencers, fake reviews, clickbait, etc. To balance the scales. American Woman is a good example. It is a pretty awful low-budget effort, a masterclass in bad acting, bad writing, and a very weak end product. Nonetheless, early in the release cycle, a veritable army of reviewers suddenly appear on IMDb, each trying to convince you this is Oscar material, at the very least. Ultimately, "top-loading" reviews always fails. But it is still an amazing phenomenon. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Watch "AMERICAN WOMAN" and brace yourself as a grieving woman's descent into madness grabs you by the throat and rarely lets go.

Molly Reese (Katelin Slack, "Evil Lurks," "Vic Effects") is a doctor whose entire family is killed in a car accident. Although consumed with grief, a twist of fate drives her to channel her rage into training herself to be a cold-blooded and highly efficient killer.

Everyone knows the Shakespearean quote "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" but this movie proves that in fact "Hell hath no fury like a woman grieving her family." And it is with a hellish fury that Molly begins to hunt down members of the local mob. (Why? Watch the movie, no spoilers here!) At times the movie plays like an art house film, as the cinematography becomes eerily hallucinogenic and pulls the viewer into the the mind of a killer psycho mama.

Katelin Stack is one of my favorite actors and this is definitely a bravura performance for her! I recognize several others in the cast whose work I've long admired: Joe Rosing, Larry Biela, and Stacey Miner chief among them. Add to that the film includes another exceptional performance from the always delightful Delilah Hefner! ("It Came From Somewhere," "Attack of the Corn Zombies.") Written & directed by Artie Siegel, who also plays a fascinating character called "Rat." Cinematography by another DP whose work I admire, Jeremy Applebaum who gives the film just the right look and feel which elevates the overall movie to a whole new level that is the primary reason the film works as well as it does.

Definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next from Mr. Siegel.

American Woman is a tragic tale of a respected doctor, Molly Reese, who suffers a traumatic incident which derails her into the world of mobsters and stone-cold killers. Instead of falling prey as another typical victim of the underworld she fights back, at first, sloppy and with little confidence. But as her thirst for revenge grows, so does her proficiency in killing the people who deserve it and we all secretly root for their demise. Sometimes we need movies like this, not to go out and seek revenge, but as a safe place to psychologically vent and root for the underdog. Worth a watch when you're in the mood.