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.

As I stumbled upon the 2025 thriller "American Woman", from writer and director Artie Siegel, by random chance here in 2025, I opted to watch it solely because it was a movie that I had neither heard about nor watched. And thus, I opted to give the movie a fair chance.

I virtually had no idea what I was in for, aside from the little information provided by the movie's synopsis. So I suppose writer and director Artie Siegel had every opportunity to entertain and impress me.

The storyline in "American Woman" was pretty terrible. It was poorly written and felt more like a film class project than an actual movie. There just was nothing particularly entertaining in the narrative. So I wasn't the least bit impressed with the material that writer Artie Siegel put together.

I was actually not familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list. And that was actually a good thing, as I do enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen. The acting performances in "American Woman" were not bad, taking into consideration the production of the movie. But don't get your hopes up, because you're not in for anything grand or memorable.

Do yourself a favor and don't waste 89 minutes on watching this movie. Some of us suffered through this, so you don't have to; you're quite welcome.

My rating of writer and director Artie Siegel's 2025 movie "American Woman" lands on a two out of ten stars.

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))

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.