The Ego Death of Queen Cecelia has a title that implies tragedy as well as an exploration of the inner life. This slow-burn thriller, while definitely a dark ride at times, delivers on its promise and eclipses the average festival feature.
With its world premiere at the 2024 Austin Film Festival, this small production explores big themes. Director Chris Beier, along with co-writer Daniel Wolfman, have crafted a noir tale set both in the world of online celebrities as well as the southern border of the United States.
Cecelia (Jo Schaeffer) used to be somebody. Well, on YouTube at least, which in the modern era is actually something. Monochromatic flashbacks transport us to her good times as well as the slow descent into obscurity, a sort of death presaged by the film’s ambitious title. The present is no great shakes. We see our main character make a series of unfortunate decisions, the consequences of which build and build until it becomes more than any influencer should have to bear.
Schaeffer, astonishingly in her first acting role of any kind, delivers a performance that’s equal parts pathos and cringe. Seeing this woman struggle to regain the ephemeral power she used to have over her own life is often hard to watch. Seeing her risk everything she has left for questionable gain is even harder. We can be disappointed, empathetic, and shocked all at the same time, but Schaeffer’s performance makes sure we’re going to feel something.
The cast around her shines. The affable John Merriman is the sweetest jerk-boss of all time. Her sister (Akasha Villalobos) feels like the bitter coworker we’ve all had. A series of seriously bad dudes (led by Holt Boggs and Steve Brudniak) are so quick to violence that the threat feels real from the jump with this crew.
The most astounding thing about this “little picture that could” is how much is doesn’t show, what it chooses not to say. It’s all too easy to over-explicate when putting script to screen, but here the audience is left to do some work in figuring out just how badly Celecia has, and continues to, screw up her life. That’s much appreciated.
The Ego Death of Queen Cecelia might have been made on a shoestring budget, but with compelling performances and a plot aching with tension, it delivers quite a payoff.
