8 May 7–13, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Body Horror Dallas actor Jason Habibi reflects on his ar- tistic journey and mak- ing a horror short film that critiques the cult of image perfection. BY PRESTON BARTA P hysical perfection is a dangerous illusion. Chasing it can carve hollow spaces into a person’s identity, leaving them desperate for the next digital hit of valida- tion. This dark descent sits at the bleeding heart of “Looksmaxxing,” a new body hor- ror short film tearing across social media feeds. Looksmaxxing, a term that originated on mid-2010s incel forums has emerged into the mainstream, mostly by way of hyper- masculine TikTokkers who will go to ex- treme lengths to maximize their attractiveness. Controversial techniques to achieve the peak masculine form include cosmetic surgery, anabolic steroids and ap- petite suppressants. With over 1.4 million views and massive engagement online, the film holds a terrifying mirror up to an inter- net subculture obsessed with extreme cos- metic upgrades and jawline myths. One of the stars at the center of the viral short is North Texas-based Jerry Habibi. The 29-year-old first-generation Iranian- American actor, producer and music artist operates far from the manicured lawns of Hollywood. Instead, he orchestrates his ris- ing career from his home in Dallas-Fort Worth. After a breakout role in the ac- claimed 2023 Sundance hit “The Persian Version,” Habibi is now making waves alongside Sunny Suljic (“Mid90s”) in a proj- ect that proves you do not need a Los Ange- les zip code to capture the global zeitgeist. Staring Down the Mirror Directed and produced by Elan Alexander, “Looksmaxxing” follows a dopamine-de- pleted young man who joins an online fo- rum promising a better life through physical perfection, only to spiral down a path of de- struction. It’s a razor-sharp commentary on modern insecurities, wrapped in a visceral body horror package. The internet response has been electric— the teaser trailer generated massive buzz, drawing comparisons to Coralie Fargeat’s” The Substance.” The film’s subject—named after the real-life online subculture that preaches “before-and-after” miracles—has drawn national headlines and no shortage of angry comment threads. Critics call the real- world movement toxic, a breeding ground for insecurity and self-harm. Some see it simply as modern self-improvement, while others argue it’s a black hole of harmful comparison and digital dysmorphia, partic- ularly for vulnerable young men bombarded by unrealistic ideals, peer pressure and mon- etized body shame. For Habibi, the theme of physical trans- formation hits close to home. “I started puberty at like 14 and had the face of a 14 and 30-year-old at the same time,” Habibi says to the Observer. He jokes that he was participating in “looksmaxxing” before it had a dark internet label. “I feel like I was doing looksmaxxing stuff in the form of a face massage, and I’ve been going to the gym since the third grade.” But his involvement in the short film goes far beyond acting. Habibi acted as a second unit producer, rolling up his sleeves to bring the grim digital world to life. “The footage you’re seeing – the webcam and digital camera stuff – that was all liter- ally shot from my room,” he reveals. He also handled his own dubbing from his home studio and his relationship with the promi- nent independent source FilmUpdates drove a marketing push on X. Finding Solitude in the Suburbs Dallas pulses with a quiet, sprawling cre- ative energy. While it might not boast the immediate cinematic prestige of New York or Los Angeles, it builds resilient artists. Habibi understands this perfectly. He spent his formative years moving across North Texas, calling Allen, Plano and Frisco home. His childhood came with profound early tragedy — he lost his father just a month before his first birthday. Growing up, he navigated the vast Texas landscape with a sharp sense of observa- tion. Today, he embraces the space the suburbs provide. “Most of my friends don’t live in Dallas anymore,” Habibi says. “I feel like I have a lot of time to myself to work on my craft and be in solitude.” That solitude breeds a dis- tinct kind of Texas hustle. “Dallas throws out a lot of good artists and actors,” he says, pointing to massive local exports like Post Malone and Demi Lo- vato. “People from Dallas can get their hands into more things.” Shattering the Scarcity Mindset If there’s one thing Habibi de- spises about the entertainment in- dustry, it’s the pervasive sense of panic. He looks at former Disney Channel stars from his early act- ing schools who expected the cor- porate machine to do the heavy lifting, only to burn out when the machine stopped moving. “I think actors don’t under- stand that they possess the abil- ity to do their own press or be able to say, ‘I can act’ or ‘I’m an actor-producer,’” he observes. Furthermore, he actively fights against the fierce, compet- itive jealousy that ruins so many creative communities. “A lot of actors have this scar- city mindset. It always has to be about me, me, me.” Habibi operates on a different frequency. He wants to champion and elevate the proj- ects he works on. By throwing his weight be- hind indie projects like “Looksmaxxing” and leaning into grassroots social media marketing, he bypasses the traditional gate- keepers completely. Habibi is a testament to the power of staying grounded. He proves that you can help run a viral marketing campaign, star alongside industry heavyweights and pro- duce cutting-edge body horror — all while remaining fiercely loyal to your roots. Hollywood might be obsessed with the next big aesthetic upgrade, but Habibi knows the real secret to longevity: You do not need to max out your looks to capture the world’s at- tention. You just need a strong voice, a quiet room to work and the relentless drive to build something true to yourself. “Looksmaxxing” premiered on Tuesday, April 28, in Los Angeles. Habibi is hopeful for a local debut at a Dallas-area film festival in the near future. ▼ ACTIVISM ART ACTIVATED ARTISTS JACKIE CLAUDET MITTERER AND CASSIE STEWART USE ART AND COMPASSION TO FUEL THE RIO VALLEY RELIEF PROJECT, BRINGING HOPE AND HELP TO DALLAS. BY PRESTON BARTA C ompassion does not wait for perfect conditions. It does not pause for bu- reaucratic gridlock, nor does it ask for permission to act. It simply looks at the human condition and decides to intervene. In Dallas, this relentless brand of empathy has a name, a pulse and a vibrant color pal- ette, largely thanks to the Rio Valley Relief Project and the two dynamic women steer- ing its course: Jackie Claudet Mitterer and Cassie Stewart. Together, they operate at the delicate in- tersection of human suffering and creative resilience. Their work is a testament to the idea that helping others is not just a logistical challenge, but an art form. By bridging the gap between those who need shelter, food or a welcoming hand, and a city eager to give, Mitterer and Stewart are proving that unity is built one quiet act of kindness at a time. A Mission Rooted in Nimble Compassion The Rio Valley Relief Project began as a re- sponse to acute human crises, providing sup- port to refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced families arriving in the area. Over time, it has evolved into a sustainable force for community care. The organization thrives on its ability to adapt. Whether they are stocking food pantries or setting up apartments for new arrivals, the goal remains fiercely simple. “It’s helping people feel connected enough to care and then giving them a way to help,” Mitterer explains to the Observer. “We’re good about looking at the human needs in front of us and shifting and pivoting where we need to.” Stewart, whose background in the school system deeply informs her approach to the project, echoes this sentiment. The focus is always on the families and the tangible reali- ties they face daily. “A lot of it comes from staying close to the families that we serve,” Stewart says. “I can lean into that community and the partner- ships and the creative thinkers around me, and that’s usually where the most resource- ful solutions come from for me, for us.” Weathering the Political Storm Providing relief in Texas is rarely just about lo- gistics. It’s inherently tied to the shifting sands of border policies and political climates. Both women acknowledge the hurdles that come with their chosen path, yet they refuse to let changing laws paralyze their mission. “Some of the policies over the past several years have made the work harder,” Stewart admits. She notes that the shifting landscape “has increased suffering for families that we care about, but the need doesn’t go away.” Even as migration patterns fluctuate, the requirement for human dignity remains constant. “Policies change,” Stewart says. “And now we’re finding ourselves in a different situation where people are coming. It’s slowed dramatically.” To combat this, the duo focuses on build- ing long-term infrastructure rather than just applying temporary bandages. “We’re beginning to be more intentional about creating consistent support systems, especially in schools and with families, so that what we’re doing isn’t just reactive but lasting,” Stewart says. “We’ve both worked in the school system, so we feel a draw to that as well and have connections there.” The Canvas of Service For Mitterer, the drive to serve is woven into her DNA, inextricably linked to her own family history and her life as a creator. She views her artistic endeavors and her human- itarian work as two sides of the same coin. “My way to connect is through service,” she says. “I am a daughter of immigrants. I am the Shima Neamati Dallas-born actor Jerry Habibi stars as the bold spirit behind “Looksmaxxing,” a body-horror short film. ▼ Culture
