Directed, written, and produced by Addison Heimann, the psychosexual horror-comedy Touch Me takes viewers on a bizarre and manic ride.
The film stars Olivia Taylor Dudley as Joey and Jordan Gavaris as Craig, two co-dependent roommates whose messy lives take a literal out-of-this-world turn when Lou Taylor Pucci appears as Brian, Joey’s charismatic and mysterious ex, who also just happens to be an alien whose touch temporarily cures anxiety and depression.
Rounding out the cast in the offbeat genre mash-up are Marlene Forte and Paget Brewster.
Touch Me first premiered in the Midnight section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, followed by SXSW.
It is now set for a U.S. theatrical release beginning March 20, 2026, with a wider limited rollout on March 27, followed by on-demand/digital release on April 2, 2026 via Yellow Veil Pictures.
A wacky, wild, sensual homage to Japanese exploitation films, Touch Me tells the story of two cringe millennials, Joey and Craig, who do everything in their power to do absolutely nothing. Of course, they have capital T childhood trauma, but so does everyone, so like, judge them however you like. Seriously, Judge Them. One regular day, Joey’s super-hot alien ex, Brian, comes back into town begging for her to forgive him and come back to his desert mansion for the weekend. With nothing better to do (and also a pretty unfortunate sewer explosion in Craig’s house), the two trepidatiously accept. Also, the fact that Brian’s slimy sexual tentacle appendage removes anxiety and depression maybe helps solidify their decision. But at the house, under Brian’s veneer of healing, is a sinister plot filled with murder, mayhem, and blood. Then again, maybe they can all get along in the most glorious throuple you’ve ever seen. Touch Me is a psychosexual horror-comedy with 100% old-school practical effects, about the nature of co-dependent friendships and how far we are willing to go for a slice of happiness.
Director Addison Heimann has spoken candidly about his creative intentions for the film, especially its connection to personal experiences and mental health themes. In an interview around its Sundance premiere, Heimann explained, “Like all the art I create, I generally take inspiration from what I am directly dealing with at the time of the idea’s inception. So, in this case, my love of Japanese language and cinema — and depression (lollll). My first film, Hypochondriac, had the message of: Your mental illness will never go away, but if you’re willing to do the work, it gets easier.”
Early critical reviews from the festival scene highlight the film’s distinct voice and its ability to mix shock with sincerity. In a review from STARBURST Magazine, critic Martin Unsworth praised Touch Me for its off-the-wall humor and visceral blend of genre conventions, writing, “Mixing off-the-wall humour and a striking visual style that owes much to the Japanese ‘Pink’ films, Touch Me goes to some incredibly dark places but does so in a captivating and evocative way.”
Watch the official trailer for Touch Me above.
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