OUR EFFED UP WORLD

***

Directed by Alice Maio Mackay

Starring Sara Thompson, Annapurna Sriram, Jess McLeod, Scott Major

Sci-Fi, Australia, 67 minutes

Reviewed as part of Tubi FrightFest 2026

Sheri has a pretty good life: a loving father, a close-knit group of friends and a secure job. But there are two things lurking in the shadows, threatening to hurt the people Sheri cares about: one is her unresolved grief for her grandmother; the other is a space creature that rode in on a meteor. 

OUR EFFED UP WORLD has many of the hallmarks a 90s indie production: unobtrusive camera work, naturalistic acting and plenty of dialogue. The on-screen chemistry between the characters feels very real, and their deep, slow-paced conversations offer some of the best moments in the movie. 

Technically, this is a creature sci-fi story, but that plot line feels less like the main event, and more like a vehicle for Sheri to work through the pain of losing her grandmother, and the anger she feels towards her devoted but emotionally damaged father. It also works as a springboard to talk about the state of things: the universe and what might be in it, where we fit in the big picture, and what it means to be human.    

But still, there is a creature, and although it might disappoint those looking for something truly frightening, I adored it. As with Finn’s video store, the creature’s design has a wonderfully retro feel, in this instance conjuring up images of campy B movie monsters.  

If it’s real sci-fi and a terrifying space predator that you’re after, this is not the movie for you. But if you’re after a charming, character-driven story with a lot of heart and an old-school humanoid space entity, this one is a delight.  

Robyn Fraser