A24 has done it again. The indie studio behind Everything Everywhere All At Once and Lady Bird is back in awards-season form with If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, a searing, pitch-black character study directed by cult auteur Mary Bronstein and anchored by an electric, already-celebrated performance from Rose Byrne. The official trailer just dropped, and it’s clear: this is not just another Oscar bid. It’s a full-throttle meltdown, drenched in fury, surrealism, and unexpected star power.
Opening in theaters October 10 after buzzy stops at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals, If I Had Legs I’d Kick Youhas already kicked off its awards campaign with a vengeance, and Byrne is leading the charge.
A Shocking, Hysterical Descent into Madness
The plot? Utter chaos. Byrne stars as Linda, a mother whose world is caving in at every corner. Her child is sick with a mysterious illness. Her husband has vanished. A person close to her is missing. And her therapist, played in a shocking dramatic turn by Conan O’Brien, has become a combative, near-antagonistic force in her unraveling life.
As Linda attempts to claw her way through suburban dysfunction, psychiatric warfare, and maternal desperation, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You spirals into a deeply unhinged, semi-surreal tone laced with Mary Bronstein’s signature discomfort and acidic wit.
Danielle Macdonald co-stars in an ambiguous role rumored to involve a suburban cult, while Christian Slater provides the disembodied voice of Linda’s missing husband. And then there’s A$AP Rocky, whose involvement is still cloaked in mystery. The rapper reportedly appears in just two scenes, but according to early viewers, his presence is “unforgettable.”
Rose Byrne: From Funny Girl to Oscar Frontrunner
Byrne’s transformation from beloved comedy fixture (Bridesmaids, Spy, Physical) to festival-dominating dramatic titan is being hailed as the performance of her career. Her portrayal of Linda earned her the Silver Bear for Best Lead Performance at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, a win that instantly launched her into the 2026 Oscars conversation.
According to Time Out critic Stephan A. Russell, Byrne delivers “a tour de force,” imbuing Linda with “both a groaning air of despair and the rising hackles of a woman who will not be ridden roughshod over.”
The New Yorker’s Richard Brody praised her “hair-trigger impulsiveness,” while Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson called it “a towering performance, a feat of intelligence and energy.”
Conan O’Brien and A$AP Rocky Get Weird and It Works
In perhaps the film’s boldest casting decision, late-night legend Conan O’Brien sheds his comic persona for the deeply sinister role of Linda’s therapist. Reviewers have compared his performance to Robin Williams in One Hour Photo unexpected, unsettling, and quietly devastating. “Conan O’Brien has no business being this good,” tweeted one critic from IndieWire.
Meanwhile, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You also marks a rare acting return for A$AP Rocky, who hasn’t appeared in a feature since Dope (2015). Described by insiders as “a divine cameo,” his scenes reportedly lean into Bronstein’s surrealist flourishes.
A Mary Bronstein Comeback Worth Screaming Over
Director Mary Bronstein, best known for 2008’s cult indie Yeast, returns with a vengeance and a new kind of cinematic weaponry. Her direction has been described as “relentless” by The New Yorker, pushing her actors to the brink and then some. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You cements her reputation as a provocateur who uses discomfort as a scalpel, not a gimmick.
Bronstein also wrote the script, which critics are calling one of the most original and caustically funny of the year.
Early Reviews and Awards Predictions
The film boasts a 93 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences praising its fearless tone and explosive performances. While Rose Byrne remains its strongest Oscar contender, insiders suggest the film could also make a run for Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.
With A24 handling its theatrical release and awards push, many are already calling it the indie darling to beat this season.
Watch the trailer below and see why If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is already being hailed as the most explosive performance of Rose Byrne’s career.
