‘By Design’ Review: The Most Surreal Body-Swap Movie You’ll Ever See

Okay, so we’ve seen body swap movies a million times, right? Parents switching with kids, rivals swapping lives, total strangers… you name it. That’s why I was so intrigued by By Design. It actually does something different! It’s about a woman who swaps bodies… with a chair! Seriously, that’s the premise, and I had to do a double-take when I heard it.

I was immediately captivated by Juliette Lewis’s performance as Camille, a seemingly ordinary woman who becomes utterly obsessed with this incredible chair she finds in a store. The director, Amanda Kramer, really wants you to see the chair as something special, almost alive. The narrator, Melanie Griffith, constantly describes it with such human terms – she even calls it ‘The Stunner’ and talks about its ‘body,’ always emphasizing how absolutely gorgeous it is. It’s a really unique way to present things!

I was totally shocked when Camille missed out on buying this amazing chair, and then things got really weird! She somehow switched bodies with it! Now, she’s the chair’s mind, being carried off to a new owner named Olivier. But here’s the crazy part: the chair’s ‘mind’ – which was nothing to begin with – is now in Camille’s body, and she’s just… completely still and can’t speak. It’s a wild setup!

And yes, this movie is as aggressively weird as that description makes it sound.

Music Box Films

Kramer intentionally created a strange and unusual film, establishing a deliberately stylized world right from the beginning. We immediately sense this when we’re introduced to Camille and her friends, Lisa and Irene, who come across as otherworldly and speak to each other in a formal, peculiar manner – even when discussing something as mundane as furniture.

Kramer intentionally embraces a low-budget aesthetic, using simple, almost bare sets that clearly look like movie sets. This approach is initially striking, reminiscent of experimental theater, and becomes even more noticeable as the film progresses and the characters become fixated on a single chair.

Early in the film By Design, Camille has a playful fantasy about dancing suggestively with a chair, marking the beginning of a series of bizarre events. Things quickly become much stranger when Olivier gets hold of the chair and starts behaving oddly – sniffing, kissing, and eventually licking it.

Music Box Films

The story isn’t pointless; it explores powerful themes—sometimes a bit too obviously—about how women are seen, quickly turned into objects of desire, and still struggle to control their own lives. Camille is captivated by a chair, even envious of its desirability, and ultimately experiences what it’s like to be that object. The chair becomes incredibly sought after, sparking conflict among those who want it. For a while, Camille gets to live out her fantasy, as the narration explains (though we don’t actually hear her thoughts as the chair, only see things from its perspective).

I have to admit, By Design started out really grabbing me with its unique and funny approach to the topic. But as it went on, I felt like it had trouble building on that initial cleverness. At 90 minutes, it just felt a little drawn out – honestly, I think it might have worked even better as a shorter film, or even a really cool, experimental stage play, which is definitely the feeling it gave off.

The actors fully embrace the film’s bizarre premise. Juliette Lewis delivers her usual unique performance as Camille, often requiring her to stare blankly or be physically carried around while her character’s spirit resides in a chair. It’s lovely—and a little sad—to see Melanie Mathis and Elizabeth Tunney acting alongside her. Both were popular leading ladies in 1990s films, and while they continue to work, they rarely get starring roles anymore, a common issue for actresses in Hollywood after they’re no longer considered young. It would be great to see Mathis and Tunney join Juliette Lewis on her previous show, Yellowjackets, alongside other actresses from that era like Christina Ricci and Lauren Ambrose.

Music Box Films

Athie delivers a fantastic performance in Kinds of Kindness, playing a strangely polite and unsettling character. His role involves bizarre scenes, including a fixation on a chair that leads to possessiveness and reveals his underlying insecurities. The film also features a memorable appearance by the late Udo Kier, in one of his last roles, as an eccentric furniture maker – a perfect fit for this already unusual movie.

MovieWeb Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Immerse yourself in the cinematic universe with the latest movie news, reviews, and exclusive content from MovieWeb.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our

and

. You can unsubscribe anytime.

While the idea behind the film By Design is initially intriguing, the movie itself doesn’t quite live up to its potential. It often feels slow-paced, which is surprising considering some of the bizarre scenes, like a stalker who tap-dances – even that feels strangely lifeless. There are a few darkly funny moments, particularly in how Camille’s friends and mother seem oblivious to the fact that she’s essentially lost her spirit, continuing to treat her as if everything is normal and imagining her responses. However, even these amusing scenes start to feel repetitive.

The movie’s visual style is quite flat, despite a few bright colors, which makes it feel more like a filmed stage production than a lively, cinematic experience. Considering how unusual the story is, it’s disappointing that By Design doesn’t fully come alive on screen.

2026-02-11 19:23

MovieWeb Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Read More