Into every generation, Spoilers are born.

We’re going back to the supernatural dramas of TV through the progressive lens that we always yearned for with the latest feature from Fantasia alum Alice Maio Mackey. This was both its strength and perhaps also the source of its weak side. That being said, this is a refreshing take. Contrary to the shows it pays tribute to, the filmmaker doesn’t focus the story on the main character’s journey. Instead, we’re going for a punk rock romance story with a demon antagonist to vanquish.

The Serpent’s Skin (2025) was directed by Alice Maio Mackey who wrote it with Benjamin Pahl Robinson. Anna (Alexandra McVicker) has left the small town life for the big city, where she’s staying with her sister Dakota (Charlotte Chimes). She’s going to meet and socialize with new friends, including bad boy Danny (Jordan Dulieu) and eventually the mysterious and alluring Gen (Avalon Fast). Anna has left behind a transphobic environment but she’s slowly coming out of her protective shell. The film doesn’t focus her on her trans identity, but rather on her supernatural abilities – abilities she shares with Gen. Together they will strengthen and perfect their skills. This will become a much needed practice as Gen has unknowingly unleashed something dark that the dynamic duo will need to face.

It draws very intentional comparisons to teenage-led supernatural dramas, where the city becomes haunted by demon incarnate and we’ll have Anna and Gen step up to face it. There’s a lot of musical montages to state time has passed and our characters know each other much better now. However, I have to mention that often enough when a situation could have several interpretations, the characters explain to each other (but really to the audience, obviously) why and how to interpret the situation. I found that dialog clunky and a bit unnecessary. Let the viewer do the legwork instead of feeling you need to overcorrect it.

Recommended with reservations. It feels familiar, cozy and cute at the same time as well as giving you some of the otherworldly adventure we miss. I bless the filmmaker to include a trans character in a setting where they are accepted and loved. I do feel the over-correcting dialog we could do without. It does feel a bit like a TV episode rather than a full film. Worth a watch as a lost episode of your favourite show.

That will do for now.