Viewing Experience

Inside the Theatre

Choosing the Film

Film has always been one of my favorite art forms, so I wanted to choose something that I could analyze in depth. When I saw that If I Had Legs I’d Kick You was screening at the Calgary International Film Festival, it felt like the perfect opportunity. Majority of my favourite movies come from A24 and I usually watch everything they make so it felt like destiny. I went with two of my friends since we were already at Chinook Mall, and what started as a casual choice quickly turned into one of the most intense viewing experiences I’ve ever had.

Pavel Danilyuk

In The Threatre

We ended up sitting in the very first row, directly in front of the screen. At first, it felt like a mistake, but the closeness made the film feel even more claustrophobic and confrontational, exactly the atmosphere it was meant to create. The sound design swallowed the room, with the film’s eerie hums and beeps echoing through the theatre. It was impossible to look away.

The space itself felt strangely intimate, more personal than a typical theatre experience. It was as if everyone in the room was collectively holding their breath. My friends reacted openly — laughing, grimacing, and even looking around in confusion, which only added to the tension and unpredictability of the film.

Tima Miroshichenko

Audience Reactions and Lingering Impressions

The audience’s mood constantly shifted between laughter, disgust, and silence. Some moments were darkly funny; others were deeply uncomfortable. You could feel the room’s energy change as the film moved between absurdity and unease. There were points where everyone seemed unsure whether to laugh or stay quiet. The confusion and discomfort became part of the experience itself.

When the credits rolled, the sound of ocean waves continued long after the screen went black. It left the audience in an odd silence, not sure whether the film had truly ended. Getting up to leave felt strange, like waking from a vivid dream. The film didn’t offer resolution or comfort, only the lingering feeling of unease and empathy.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You isn’t a movie you watch for entertainment; it’s one you sit with. It’s uncomfortable, claustrophobic, and strangely human. It captures the feeling of trying to hold yourself together even when everything around you is quietly falling apart.

Isabella Mendes