“O’Dessa” is directed by Geremy Jasper and stars Sadie Sink, Regina Hall, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Murray Bartlett, and Kelly Macdonald. The film follows O’Dessa (played by Sink) as she embarks on a journey to recover a family heirloom, all while a prophecy is on the verge of becoming a reality.
After its favorable reception at the 2025 SXSW festival, I decided to check out the film. Unfortunately, I’m sad to report that it does not live up to expectations outside of its exposition. While it features visually vibrant neon colors and occasionally desaturated post-apocalyptic tones that are pleasing to the eyes, the film ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive storyline. I would warn anyone who is sensitive to bright, flashy lights, as they could potentially induce seizures. On a positive note, the sound design is effective; beyond the music, the use of complete silence enhances the sense of dread throughout the film.
Sadie Sink is a talented vocalist and musician, but she lacks on-screen presence as the protagonist.
I found it difficult to believe her character’s motivations, and I never truly invested in the outcome of her journey. Kelvin Harrison Jr. does his best as the love interest, but their dynamic feels unrealistic. The story itself is formulaic and becomes repetitive, particularly with the prophecy element. Much of the dialogue is simplistic; one example is the line, “You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream,” which reveals a lack of creativity in the writing. While there are a couple of original songs that are temporarily memorable, most are forgettable.
The film struggles to define its genre, attempting to be a romance, action-adventure, survival story, and musical drama all at once, but fails to deliver a cohesive viewing experience. The dialogue does not help, as its delivery contributes to a story that lacks substance.
Overall, this post-apocalyptic rock musical drama is more exposition than substance. With a poorly written script and mostly forgettable songs, I consider it one of the worst films I’ve seen in 2025. The lead performance reinforces the idea that a strong social media following does not guarantee the ability to carry a film.
Rating: 1 out of 5.