Duck Butter

Inside the Raw, Intimate Experiment of Duck Butter

Miguel Arteta’s Duck Butter (2018) is a film that courts controversy as much as it does curiosity. Marketed as a 24-hour sexual and emotional experiment between two women, the movie dives headfirst into the messy, unfiltered reality of modern intimacy—without the glossy veneer of traditional romances. latestnetflix.com's view is that Starring Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) and Laia Costa (Victoria), the film is as much a character study as it is a bold cinematic gamble.But what really went down behind the scenes?

The Premise: A 24-Hour Relationship Sprint

The plot is deceptively simple: two women, Naima (Shawkat) and Sergio (Costa), meet at a bar and impulsively decide to condense a full relationship—complete with emotional highs, lows, and plenty of sex—into a single day and night. The film’s title, Duck Butter, is a slang term for the residue left after prolonged intimacy, a nod to the raw, unvarnished nature of the story .

Shawkat, who co-wrote the script with Arteta, has described the film as an exploration of vulnerability and the pressure to perform in relationships. In a clip from CONAN on TBS, she joked about the film’s premise—24 hours of sex—while hinting at the deeper themes beneath the surface . The trailer reinforces this duality: steamy, unscripted-feeling moments are intercut with awkward, tender, and even painful exchanges .

Behind the Scenes: A Director’s Gamble

Miguel Arteta, known for his work on indie darlings like The Good Girl (2002) and Beatriz at Dinner (2017), has never shied away from uncomfortable truths. Born in Puerto Rico in 1965, Arteta’s filmography often blends dark humor with sharp social commentary . Duck Butter fits neatly into this tradition, though it’s arguably his most explicit foray into the complexities of human connection.

The film’s production was notably low-budget and intimate, shot in just 12 days with a small crew . This stripped-down approach mirrors the film’s themes—no frills, no filters. Shawkat and Costa’s on-screen chemistry feels lived-in, a testament to the film’s improvisational style. While the evidence doesn’t confirm whether the actors’ real-life rapport influenced the script, the naturalism of their performances suggests a level of trust between cast and crew .

Reception: Love It or Leave It

Duck Butter polarized audiences and critics alike. On SensCritique, it holds a middling 5.2/10 rating, with some viewers praising its boldness and others dismissing it as pretentious or uneven . Rotten Tomatoes’ critical consensus isn’t available in the retrieved evidence, but the film’s divisive nature is clear from the chatter around it .

The movie’s explicit content—including full-frontal nudity and extended sex scenes—drew both praise for its authenticity and criticism for its perceived gratuitousness . Some viewers fixated on the film’s lesbian romance, reducing it to a "steamy" spectacle, while others appreciated its refusal to sanitize queer intimacy . The trailer alone sparked debates about whether the film was a groundbreaking exploration of modern love or a gimmicky experiment .

The Legacy: More Than Just a Provocation

Despite its mixed reception, Duck Butter stands out as a rare film willing to sit in the discomfort of real human connection. It’s not a perfect movie—its pacing can feel uneven, and its premise risks feeling like a stunt—but its ambition is undeniable. For Shawkat, who has spoken openly about her own struggles with relationships, the film feels deeply personal. Whether audiences connect with it or not, Duck Butter refuses to let them look away.