‘Theater is Dead’ Review: Chekhov’s Menstrual Cup [Fantastic Fest 2025]
Theater looks weird from the outside. As a recovering theater kid, it even looks odd from the wings. There are tons of big personalities drawn to this world. And many of those personalities are solely based on memorizing musicals and bursting into song without notice. But one thing’s for sure: these theater kids are all seeking validation in their own way from the broken people around them. While I always remind everyone that not all theater kids are musical theater kids, I know neither camp is beating the weird cult allegations. With all of the eccentricities and unique souls drawn to the performing arts, it’s a world filled with opportunities for horror. That’s why the Theater is Dead world premiere at Fantastic Fest was packed with tons of recovering theater kids.
Theater is Dead has a very dramatic opening that makes you wonder exactly what this supernatural entity is feeding on. It then introduces us to a “theater virgin” named Willow (Decker Sadowski, one of the four writers). Willow is an engineering student working on a new kind of menstrual cup and is the only member of her team who menstruates. She seems to be living her best normal kid life. At least until she sees a poster encouraging people with no experience to audition for a play. Her dead dad was an actor, and she is clearly looking for something to get her out of her rut. So she auditions, and against all odds, the director, Matthew (Shane West), gives her the leading role. She soon finds herself in over her head, surrounded by a cast of seemingly jealous enemies.
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People who have done theater will clock all of these over-the-top characters on sight and get a giggle. That is not to say non-theater people cannot enjoy Theater is Dead. It’s just a lot more fun when you’re deeply familiar with these personality types. West brings to life the self-important male director who reeks of being a predator. Miranda (Julie Wittner) is the overeager stage manager who will bend herself backward if the director asks her to. Miranda got the most laughs out of me as a former stage manager, and, honestly, I felt a little attacked. Taylor Malvaggio (Madison Lawlor, another co-writer) is Matthew’s daughter, who has it out for Willow and has a bone to pick with her dad.
Shannon (Olivia Blue, another co-writer) and Jaden (Dylan Adler) are the fake best friends in every production and theater program across the globe. This duo got the most laughs at the world premiere, even when they went over the top. Zac (Colin McCalla) is the actor whose shirt is always unbuttoned and takes things too seriously.
Theater is Dead director and co-writer Katherine Dudas knows this world inside and out. Dudas’ background and knowledge elevate this movie, preventing it from becoming a single joke stretched over a feature film. Dudas even gave big theater kid energy during the pre- and post-talk at the premiere. That’s why the film laughs with theater people rather than at theater people. It gets the jokes, references, types of personalities, and how we are all a little kooky.
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Aside from understanding how many theater folks end up in the horror world, Theater is Dead is also bringing periods to a big screen near you. Because of Ben (Jacob Nichols) and Willow’s new diva cup prototype, we spend a lot of time talking about periods. Ben is always tracking Willow’s period and trying to get her to care about the cup’s suction. It’s funny, but also makes the film another period horror movie in an eternally too-short list of titles.
I’m here for the destigmatization of periods because it’s 2025, and it’s time politicians and incels learn basic human anatomy. The menstrual cup felt like a separate story that only got further away when Willow dropped out of her program to impress Matthew. So, when the menstrual cup is literally used to save the day, it’s a pleasantly cool surprise. If this isn’t on everyone’s list of best kills of the year, we need to reevaluate what we’re doing.
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Watching Willow slowly lose herself in this world is too familiar. Theater is one of the places where ambition and a willingness to become someone else are rewarded. It brings out the worst in the best people, and the competition between actors has ruined many relationships. Theater is Dead does not shy away from that. Nor does it pretend that the world isn’t seductive like most cults. Even when she begins to have a hard time keeping the real world and the world of the play separate, she refuses to turn back.
Willow finds out that Matthew gives his favorite students a contract and immediately decides she needs one, even though this is her first role. Like a reflex in a muscle she didn’t know she had, she gets bitchy with Jaden, who is also willing to give up everything for Matthew’s approval. Theater is cutthroat and a place where friendships die regularly.
Theater is Dead toys with its audience, teasing what’s going on for as long as possible. Is it a Body Snatchers situation or more of a possession? Is it just something or someone eating thespian souls? We’re left in the dark, knowing only that the industry is toxic, so odds are a man is the issue. This keeps all eyes on the obvious culprit, and it’s a delight to see West have fun playing the villain. After all, one of the movie’s themes is the abuse and exploitation of theater artists. Having the director be the big bad is the only thing that makes sense. Knowing he’s the problem without knowing what kind of evil we’re dealing with doesn’t take away from the fun, though.
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There are also so many jokes made at his expense once Taylor and Willow team up that you cannot be mad, even if you wanted to be. The third act is not as strong as the first two-thirds of the movie, but it eventually finds its footing just in time to stick the landing.
I am not going to lie and say Theater is Dead is a perfect movie. However, it captures the feeling of being in the theater world beautifully. It’s also very smart and fun at times. It may not be for everyone, and there are definitely a few areas that could be tightened. That being said, few movies spark this kind of joy and allow me to use the phrase Chekhov’s Diva Cup. So, I love this messy queen and will be introducing it to all my theater friends.
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Theater is Dead
Summary
I am not going to lie and say ‘Theater is Dead’ is a perfect movie. However, it captures the feeling of being in theatre. It’s also at times very smart and fun
Categorized: Reviews
