The first trailer for A24’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You has arrived, and it’s every bit as chaotic, darkly funny, and emotionally charged as its title suggests. Rose Byrne stars as Linda, a woman whose life is spiraling out of control in ways both absurd and devastating. Directed by Mary Bronstein, the film—which premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance before making waves at Berlin—promises to be one of the year’s most electrifying dramedies when it hits theaters October 10.
From the opening moments of the trailer, Byrne’s Linda is already on the edge, screaming at her therapist—played by an unexpectedly deadpan Conan O’Brien—who responds with infuriating calm. “I’m asking you what I’m supposed to do! Can you hear me?” she yells, her voice cracking under the weight of desperation. O’Brien’s therapist, seemingly unfazed, offers the kind of hollow advice that would push anyone over the brink: “I would like you to get a good night’s sleep.” It’s a darkly hilarious exchange that sets the tone for a film about the messy, often surreal experience of losing one’s grip.
The official logline teases a story where Linda’s world is collapsing on multiple fronts—her child is battling a mysterious illness, her husband is absent, a missing person case haunts her, and her therapy sessions have devolved into something closer to psychological warfare. The supporting cast—including Danielle Macdonald, Delaney Quinn, Christian Slater, and A$AP Rocky—hints at a world populated by eccentric, unpredictable characters who only add to Linda’s unraveling.
Critics have already taken notice. Following its Sundance premiere, Variety’s Peter Debruge hailed the film as “a virtuosic portrait of mental unraveling,” praising Bronstein’s direction for creating “an end-of-the-world feeling on the most intimate scale.” But the real revelation is Byrne, whose performance Debruge called “feverish” and “raw-nerve,” marking what may be the most intense role of her career. The Berlin Film Festival agreed, awarding her the Silver Bear for Best Lead Performance—a testament to how deeply she disappears into Linda’s frantic, fractured psyche.
Behind the scenes, the film boasts a formidable team, with producers including Sara Murphy, Ryan Zacarias, and Josh and Benny Safdie collaborator Ronald Bronstein. Byrne and Bronstein also serve as executive producers, suggesting a deeply personal investment in this offbeat, emotionally charged story.
With its mix of biting humor, psychological tension, and a lead performance that promises to linger long after the credits roll, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You looks like another bold, unconventional entry in A24’s ever-expanding catalog. If the trailer is any indication, audiences should brace for a wild, emotionally bruising ride—one where laughter and despair sit uncomfortably close.
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