American Woman

A boldly dark edge-of-your-seat thriller with a challenging female lead who meets the challenge with a carefully gauged descent into outright madness. At times serious, at times crazy funny, a busy visual feast for even the best of filmmakers, and especially challenging for a first time full length feature filmmaker striking out into a world of such heavy competition. But Artie Siegel doesn't shy away or veer from the seriousness of his well authored account, and that mature focus serves him and his film and its talented newcomer actors very well indeed, especially Katelin Stack who delivers a terrific performance carrying most of the often disturbing narrative. The hand held camera does a great job supporting the film's intensely conceived plot.

Worst movie in the history of fim making. Total crew from actors to gaffers are incredibly inept. All the 10 star ratings that family and friends submitted are a poorly disguised attempt to create interest in a production that only needed a truckload of recently used toilet paper to clean up this abomination.

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.

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 (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.