SXSW Review: The Real Essence of Tick Bites is an Intriguing DIY Experiment in the Style of Bergman.

      Blending elements of horror and dark comedy surrounding wellness trends, The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick, much like director Pete Ohs’ earlier film Jethica, suggests an experience akin to watching a play within a film. Both pieces are challenging to discuss without revealing spoilers, as they transcend conventional genre boundaries.

      Understanding the creative approach behind the film is beneficial. Tick was collaboratively crafted by its primary cast: as Ohs detailed during the SXSW premiere, they secluded themselves in a country home where they would write three scenes at a time, film those scenes, analyze them, and then proceed. The outcome resembles a mumblecore iteration of an Ingmar Bergman film, striking a balance between loose and tightly controlled. However, if viewers don't resonate with the film's style, it may come off as incoherent. Much like the wellness remedies proposed by AJ (James Cusati-Moyer), the group’s resident chef, engaging with the film requires acceptance and belief. Guided by Baz Luhrmann’s quote, “a life lived in fear is a life half-lived,” it was essentially the title alone that enticed frequent collaborators of Ohs to participate.

      Camile (Callie Hernandez) invites her old college friend Yvonne (Zoë Chao) to her house in upstate New York after experiencing a personal loss, seeking detox and an escape from city life. Welcomed by Camile’s realtor Issac (Jeremy O. Harris) and his partner AJ, they encounter various supernatural phenomena in an old house with floor holes that are meant to distribute heat but act as voyeuristic openings.

      The quintessential DIY filmmaker, Ohs shot and edited this film much like he did with Jethica, which presents a deconstructed take on Thelma & Louise infused with supernatural and Shakespearean themes. As expected, The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick follows a similar methodology, building tension through eerily effective segments that hint at the potential interest of Blumhouse in the future.

      Restraint is key here: Ohs’ film engages with themes of motherhood, friendship, health, wellness, and fantasy, creating an entrancing biological narrative that is tough to explain without revealing too much. The earlier mentioned tick pushes the film into a mild body horror territory as Yvonne’s struggles intensify; although she schemes to escape, she remains ensnared by the quasi-family she unwittingly joins. The storyline delves into spiritual elements reminiscent of Being John Malkovich as the group contemplates life cycles and future generations.

      Reactions to The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick will differ, but it successfully combines joy, beauty, and horror, defying easy classification. Yet, it remarkably concludes on a strong note, featuring a cohesive ensemble that developed the film almost through a workshop process. In this sense, it serves as a film about filmmaking, with independent cinema often being a familial endeavor. The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick embodies the creative journey stemming from an initial concept, an evident metaphor that only becomes clear as viewers learn more about its making.

      The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick premiered at SXSW 2025.