SXSW: A Safe Distance

Alex (Bethany Brown) has been abandoned in the woods by her boyfriend Joey (Chris McNally). After his cliffside proposal ended with rejection, Joey quietly packs up his things and drives off. A disoriented and now injured Alex is found by a couple camping nearby. Known as the newlywed bank robbers, Kianna (Tandia Mercedes) and Matt (Cody Kearsley) are on the run from authorities. Eschewing a life of responsibility, they amass millions from their crimes and hide out in the Canadian wilderness to escape the trappings of capitalism. Alex is instantly drawn to the couple, especially Kianna with whom she develops a romantic bond. When Matt’s abuse escalates, Alex and Kianna plot an escape. 

“A Safe Distance is a feminist reframing of the classic ‘lovers on the run’ story that asks as many questions as it answers. It’s about a woman’s decision to shirk society’s expectations in favour of a life of crime and sexual liberation, and how that decision sets off a chain reaction of events that will change her life forever.”

— Gloria Mercer, Director’s Statement

A sexy psychological thriller with a hypnotic slow burn, A Safe Distance will have you hooked from the very beginning. Directed by Gloria Mercer and written by Aidan West, this film is an expansion on the short film by the same name released in 2021. In a feature length format, it can take its time conveying the resiliency of women when faced with the trappings of patriarchy. I appreciated the film’s focus on the female characters and how the two male protagonists were almost interchangeable in their appearance. This will be of particular interest in anyone looking for sapphic stories. It also fits into the subgenre of “be gay, do crime” and in the ongoing conversations about alpine divorce. Catch this one if you can!

A Safe Distance had its world premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film & Television Festival.