SXSW 2024: Meat Puppet Review

A standout feature of this year’s Midnighters Program at SXSW was Meat Puppet.

Directed by Eros V, Meat Puppet unfolds with Oz Franklin (David Jonsson) immersed in his world of action figures at home, while his girlfriend (Máiréad Tyers) frantically calls him from their graduation ceremony, puzzled by his absence. Oz, perpetually embracing his inner child, disregards her calls and instead answers the door to a mysterious package.

Believing he ordered another round of toys, Oz accepts the delivery and eagerly opens the box, only to reveal a Sesame Street-style Muppet dressed in dirty clothes and adorned with satanic markings. Despite his better judgment (a recurring trend with Oz), he impulsively puts his hand inside the Muppet, unleashing chaos.

What’s remarkable about Meat Puppet is the evident amount of love and care poured into the film. The script is tight, the dialogue sharp and witty, and the scene transitions reminiscent of watching an Edgar Wright film. With brilliant comedic timing from both Jonsson and Tyers, Meat Puppet stands as one of the standout films at SXSW. I’ll be eagerly anticipating future projects from Eros V.

★ ★ ★ ★ out of 4

This review was originally published as part of our SXSW coverage. Photo Credit: Meat Puppet film