Juliette Lewis Turns Into a Chair in Trailer for the Bonkers Indie Comedy BY DESIGN
Music Box Films has released the trailer for By Design, a seriously strange indie comedy from writer and director Amanda Kramer, and it looks like one of those movies you either bounce off immediately or can’t stop thinking about.
There isn’t much middle ground here. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and is now set to arrive just in time for Valentine’s Day.
At the center of it all is Juliette Lewis, playing Camille, a woman who becomes transfixed by a gorgeous chair she spots in a showroom. It’s not admiration so much as envy. Camille wants the kind of affection and attention this perfectly designed object seems to inspire.
Through unexplained, fairy-tale logic, she ends up swapping bodies with the chair, and here’s where the movie really leans into its oddball premise. Camille quickly realizes that everyone in her life prefers her this way.
As an inanimate object, Camille suddenly becomes a better listener. Her mother, played by Betty Buckley, finds comfort in her silent presence. Her best friends, portrayed by Samantha Mathis and Robin Tunney, enjoy a friendship free of friction.
Meanwhile, the chair ends up with Olivier, a minimalist bachelor played by Mamoudou Athie, who develops a romantic fixation on his elegant new piece of furniture. Camille can’t speak or move, but she’s finally wanted.
The trailer makes it clear this isn’t just a goofy body swap gag stretched to feature length. Kramer treats the idea like a modern fable, layering deadpan humor, surreal flourishes, interpretive dance, and even fourth-wall-breaking moments.
The film is narrated by Melanie Griffith, and it It’s an absurdist spin on the body swap comedy, but it’s also a sideways look at loneliness, romance, and the pressure to be pleasing.
I already shared my thoughts saying in my review: “I spent most of the film in a state of bewilderment, muttering to myself, ‘What the hell am I watching?’ But at the same time, I couldn’t look away. It’s absurd, ridiculous, and fully committed to its strangeness.”
“Certain moments are thought-provoking, others hilarious, and some just baffling. The film doesn’t seem particularly concerned with making sense, but I guess that’s part of its charm.”
“It throws out bonkers ideas at every turn, leaving you to decide whether you’re watching something deeply profound or just completely ridiculous.”
By Design will be released in select US theaters starting February 13, 2026. If you’re an adventurous cinephile who enjoys movies that fully commit to being weird, this one might end up being your kind of Valentine’s date.