At SXSW 2026, A Safe Distance arrives as a gripping, emotionally layered thriller that blurs the lines between survival, identity, and desire.
Directed by Gloria Mercer and starring Bethany Brown and Tandia Mercedes, the film follows Alex—a woman whose life takes a dramatic turn after rejecting a marriage proposal and finding herself stranded in the wilderness. What begins as a desperate situation quickly evolves into something far more complicated when she’s taken in by a mysterious off-the-grid couple… who just happen to be fugitives.
But A Safe Distance is far more than a crime thriller—it’s a deeply introspective story about self-discovery and the cost of living a life that isn’t truly your own.
🔥 From Survival to Self-Discovery
During our conversation, Bethany Brown described Alex as someone who has spent years molding herself to fit someone else’s life—specifically, her boyfriend Joey.
“Alex had actually not even asked herself what her own dreams are.”
That idea becomes the emotional backbone of the film. When Alex enters the orbit of Kiana (Tandia Mercedes), she’s suddenly exposed to a radically different way of living—one defined by freedom, defiance, and unpredictability.
Even something as simple as Kiana’s “dream breakfast order” becomes symbolic: a moment of uninhibited desire that forces Alex to confront a startling realization—she doesn’t even know what she wants.
⚡ The Allure—and Danger—of Freedom
Kiana represents everything Alex is not… yet. She’s bold, unapologetic, and unwilling to shrink herself for anyone—even within a volatile and verbally abusive relationship.
Tandia Mercedes shared that Kiana’s strength comes from resilience:
“She just pushes back and proves him wrong… She doesn’t like the trope of the guy being the savior.”
But that strength exists within a dangerous environment—one that Alex quickly recognizes is escalating.
As Alex becomes emotionally entangled, what begins as fascination turns into something more complex: care, connection, and even love. Yet that connection is constantly at odds with survival.
🎬 A Story Rooted in Real Experience
For director Gloria Mercer, A Safe Distance is deeply personal. Drawing from her own experiences, Mercer crafted Alex’s journey as a reflection of what happens when someone wakes up inside a life they no longer recognize.
“You think things are working… and then one day you realize you’re not happy.”
Mercer also explored how women are often conditioned to make themselves smaller in relationships—losing their identity in the process.
That tension fuels the film’s central question:
What happens when you finally allow yourself to want more?
💥 Love, Loyalty, or Survival?
What makes A Safe Distance so compelling is its refusal to offer easy answers.
Alex’s journey isn’t just about escaping danger—it’s about deciding who she is when the rules no longer apply. As she grows closer to Kiana, the lines between right and wrong, safety and desire, begin to blur.
And that’s where the film thrives—in ambiguity.
It challenges viewers to sit in discomfort, to question motivations, and to recognize that sometimes the most dangerous place to be… is somewhere that feels freeing.
🎥 Final Thoughts
With powerful performances, emotionally charged themes, and a thought-provoking narrative, A Safe Distance stands out as one of SXSW’s most intriguing character-driven thrillers.
It’s a story about reinvention—but also a warning:
Freedom can be intoxicating… but it always comes at a cost.
Watch the full interview with Bethany Brown, Tandia Mercedes, and Gloria Mercer above.