Elizabeth Banks Confronts AI in Stylish SXSW Thriller 'DreamQuil'

The star spoke about AI's increasing role in our lives at the premiere of her buzzy new thriller.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:51am

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In Alex Prager's 'DreamQuil,' Elizabeth Banks stars as an overwhelmed mom who attends a virtual wellness retreat and returns home to find a robot version of herself attending to her family's needs. Banks takes on two roles in the film, both as Carol and her robot counterpart, Carol Two. The stylish psychological thriller also stars John C. Reilly, Juliette Lewis, and Kathryn Newton.

Why it matters

As AI has become more prevalent in recent years, 'DreamQuil' aims to explore what would happen if AI took on more mundane tasks, and the potential impact on our humanity and connections with each other.

The details

Director Alex Prager prioritized using handcrafted in-camera techniques to emphasize the craftsmanship of human beings and the contrast between automation and humanity. Banks spoke about the film's message, saying 'I think that no matter what tasks we turn over to it, we're losing a little bit of our humanity. And I think that's definitely part of what the movie's message is.'

  • The film premiered at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas on March 20, 2026.

The players

Elizabeth Banks

An American actress, director, producer, and writer who stars in the film 'DreamQuil' as both Carol and her robot counterpart, Carol Two.

Alex Prager

The director of 'DreamQuil' and a renowned photographer known for her work in magazines and galleries.

John C. Reilly

An American actor who also stars in 'DreamQuil'.

Juliette Lewis

An American actress and singer who also stars in 'DreamQuil'.

Kathryn Newton

An American actress who also stars in 'DreamQuil'.

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What they’re saying

“I think that no matter what tasks we turn over to it, we're losing a little bit of our humanity. And I think that's definitely part of what the movie's message is.”

— Elizabeth Banks, Actress

“I was very keen to use as many handcrafted in-camera techniques as possible, because it's really about the automation and the humanity. It's really important just to feel the craftsmanship of human beings making this come together.”

— Alex Prager, Director

The takeaway

As AI continues to play a larger role in our lives, 'DreamQuil' explores the potential impact on our humanity and connections with each other, raising important questions about the boundaries we should set around AI's involvement in our daily lives.