Biracial Queer Man's Pursuit of Artificial Beauty Transformation in Caterpillar

In September 2025, the documentary Caterpillar is making waves in the film industry. The film, which had its world premiere at South by Southwest earlier this year, follows the story of David Taylor, a biracial, middle-aged queer man who becomes infatuated with a mysterious company's promise to permanently change his eye color.

Struggling to feel seen and accepted, David travels to India to undergo the controversial, non-FDA-approved procedure. As he begins to question whether this artificial beauty will truly fulfill him, the film traces the broader societal implications of the deification of physical appearance and the international plastic surgery industry's role in promoting these oppressive standards.

Caterpillar, the sophomore feature from director Liza Mandelup, has received positive reviews from critics. IndieWire praised the film, stating that it "begins as an alluring portrait of a single subject and morphs into a surreal medical thriller." The Austin Chronicle also commended the movie, describing it as "a smart, sympathetic character study with an expected style" that "examines the increasingly complicated nexus of self-esteem, marketing, body modification and technology."

Mandelup, who is thrilled to be working with Good Deed Entertainment to distribute the film, said, "Audiences at our film festival screenings have responded to David Taylor's moving story. I am beyond excited to collaborate with a team that so clearly values original storytelling. I can't wait for the world to see this film!"