![‘American Sweatshop’ Review: Lili Reinhart Faces The Horror Of Social Media In A Psychological Thriller [SXSW]](https://cdn.theplaylist.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/08133226/american-sweatshop-321166.jpg "‘American Sweatshop’ Review: Lili Reinhart Faces The Horror Of Social Media In A Psychological Thriller [SXSW]")
What happens when we view the Internet’s most disturbing images? Social media moderators encounter them on a daily basis and are asked to watch out for and remove the biggest offenders. “American Sweatshop” follows a young social media mod who seeks justice after viewing an upsetting video. Her quest to discover what is real and what is fake becomes more dangerous with each new revelation. The film premiered during this year’s SXSW, instantly receiving critical acclaim.
Uta Briesewitz makes a bold feature directorial debut. It calls on her experience as a celebrated cinematographer, having worked on “The Wire” and “Hung.” In ‘Sweatshop,’ the director explores the intensity held in each image. “I always reflected about the power of images and how they affect us, how they stick with us, the good ones and the bad ones,” Briesewitz said in a written statement. “The bad ones are hard to erase from your mind.”
‘Sweatshop’ features a strong performance by Lili Reinhart. The actress is best known for her work on the popular series “Riverdale” and stars in the Mubi series “Harper & Hal.” Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, Tim Plester, Christiane Paul, and Joel Fry are co-stars in the upcoming film.
The film’s official synopsis:
A social media moderator (Lili Reinhart) is tasked with purging the most offensive content from the Internet. When she finds a video she believes to contain a crime, she’s lured away from the safety of her keyboard and into a dangerous world as she obsessively seeks to hold someone accountable.
Briesewitz, Anita Elsani, Jason Sosnoff, Barry Levinson, and Tom Fontana serve as producers on “American Sweatshop.” The film debuts in theaters on September 19. Watch the new trailer below.
