Dario Russo takes talking animals very seriously. That’s why in The Fox, Russo’s first feature film, the woodland creatures’ ability to speak is treated as the most ordinary part of the movie. Russo’s particular vision for the magical realism comedy that had its world premiere at South by Southwest 2026 was to present a cautionary tale about what happens when you think you can change someone instead of working on yourself.
Russo previously worked in television, directing the popular internet series Italian Spiderman as well as an action series for SBS One Danger 5. He describes The Fox as autobiographical and personal in a sense, taking on nearly every role in its creation, writing, directing, editing, and scoring the film himself. He jokes that the story is one Australians are all too familiar with.
“I’ve encountered talking foxes in my life, and unfortunately, I’ve listened to them,” Russo says. “My life has gone off the rails as a result. So, it’s a cautionary tale for people in Australia who get into this sort of predicament quite a bit, and I think it’s about time we talk about it publicly.”
The Fox follows Nick (Jai Courtney) as he proposes to his girlfriend, Kori (Emily Browning), later finding out she’s having an affair with her boss, Derek (Damon Herriman). While hunting, Nick meets a talking fox (Olivia Colman), who promises to transform his cheating fiancée into the perfect woman; one that is ready for marriage. That same fox manipulates Derek’s wife, Diana (Claudia Doumit), promising to make her cheating husband in love with her once again.
