At SXSW 2026, I watched the world premiere of Pretty Lethal, and it’s an action-packed thriller that doesn’t hold back. Directed by Vicky Jewson and written by Kate Freund, the film follows five ballerinas stranded in a remote forest who take refuge at a mysterious roadside inn. What begins as an unsettling scenario quickly escalates… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Pretty Lethal: pretty violent, pretty bloody
Author: Laurie Coker
SXSW 2026 – Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice: loud, ridiculous, stylish, and unapologetically fun
At SXSW 2026, I attended the World Premiere of Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, and it’s exactly the kind of movie you hope for in a packed festival lineup—loud, ridiculous, stylish, and unapologetically fun. Written and directed by Ben David Grabinski, this R-rated action-comedy throws logic out the window and replaces it with… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice: loud, ridiculous, stylish, and unapologetically fun
SXSW 2026 -Kill Me: a darkly comedic, twisty mystery that somehow balances laughs, thrills
I watched the world premiere of Kill Me at SXSW, and wow—what a ride. Peter Warren has crafted a darkly comedic, twisty mystery that somehow balances laughs, thrills, and genuine suspense all at once. The movie begins with Jimmy—played brilliantly by Charlie Day—waking up in a bathtub filled with his own blood, wrists slit. At… Continue reading SXSW 2026 -Kill Me: a darkly comedic, twisty mystery that somehow balances laughs, thrills
SXSW 2026 – Surfilmusic: gently pulls you in and then stays
My favorite film at SXSW 2026 wasn’t the flashiest or loudest — it was a quiet, deeply personal documentary by Emmett Malloy about Jack Johnson. I went in expecting something mellow and reflective, but I wasn’t ready for how much it would affect me personally. It’s the kind of film that gently pulls you in… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Surfilmusic: gently pulls you in and then stays
Project Hail Mary: humor, tension, and a surprising amount of warmth
I skipped the closing film at SXSW this year and instead attended the screening of Project Hail Mary. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—how could a story about one guy and a rock-like alien carry an entire movie without becoming boring or losing its heart? It seemed like the kind of idea that might look… Continue reading Project Hail Mary: humor, tension, and a surprising amount of warmth
SXSW 2026 – Pizza Movie
Seeing this at an SXSW screening captured the kind of festival-themed, unpredictable energy that audiences love. Directed by Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher, the film plunges viewers straight into chaos and hardly pauses to explain itself. From my point of view, it’s one of those comedies where you either go along for the ride or get left behind, because… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Pizza Movie
SXSW 2026 – Over Your Dead Body: a fun, energetic mix of action, comedy, and thriller
Over Your Dead Body is one of those films that knows exactly what it is—and embraces it with a grin, fitting the theme that SXSW programmers appeared to promote for this festival – graphic violence and broken people. Directed by Jorma Taccone, the premise is deliciously simple: a dysfunctional couple heads to a remote cabin under the… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Over Your Dead Body: a fun, energetic mix of action, comedy, and thriller
SXSW 2026 – I Love Boosters: too chaotic to land solidly
With his SXSW 2026 opening night film, Boots Riley’s latest swings big — and I found myself both admiring aspects of it and shaking my head in equal measure. From the beginning, it’s clearly a Boots Riley film: bold, highly stylized, and full of color. The imagery is vivid and creative, almost intoxicating at times,… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – I Love Boosters: too chaotic to land solidly
FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go
Some films don’t just unfold before you — they draw you in and refuse to let go. Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, Sirāt, the latest from director Óliver Laxe, is one of those rare, compelling cinematic experiences. Shot with hypnotic beauty by cinematographer Mauro Herce, the film follows Luis (Sergi López, in one of his… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go
Wuthering Heights: visually sumptuous, boldly acted, yet deeply disappointing
As a retired literature teacher who read and later introduced students to Emily Brontë’s only novel, I approached the 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights with anticipation—and, I admit, protectiveness. Directed and written by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the adaptation is visually sumptuous and boldly acted. Yet… Continue reading Wuthering Heights: visually sumptuous, boldly acted, yet deeply disappointing