Author: Laurie Coker

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

Just Sing: a quietly engaging documentary that favors connection over competition.

Venture Land

Just Sing (Dirs. Abraham Troen & Angelique Molina) opens in theaters on April 24 and unfolds as a quietly engaging documentary that favors connection over competition. The film settles into its rhythm early and well, and never feels rushed or overly contrived. Instead, it allows moments to breathe, giving the material a natural and unforced… Continue reading Just Sing: a quietly engaging documentary that favors connection over competition.

SXSW 2026-Normal (on 35mm): wildly inplausible and wholly fun!

I saw Normal (on 35mm) at its U.S. premiere during SXSW 2026, and it’s the kind of film that feels like it’s quietly sizing viewers up before deciding how far it’s going to go. Directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Bob Odenkirk, it opens with a sense of stillness that feels almost deceptive. The town… Continue reading SXSW 2026-Normal (on 35mm): wildly inplausible and wholly fun!

SXSW 2026 – Margo’s Got Money Trouble: now streaming on Apple TV

I’ve now seen the first three episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and I’ll say this up front—I liked it more than I expected, even if I’m still a little unsure about parts of it. It’s clever in ways that sneak up on you, and while it definitely feels geared toward a female audience, there’s… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Margo’s Got Money Trouble: now streaming on Apple TV

SXSW 2026 -Imposters: falls just short of uniting its ideas

Imposters is one of those films where I can understand why it resonated with many people, even if it didn’t fully work for me. Written and directed by Caleb Phillips, the film begins with a jarring, unsettling sequence that immediately pulls you in and establishes a dark tone. It signals right away that this isn’t… Continue reading SXSW 2026 -Imposters: falls just short of uniting its ideas

The Drama: messy and underdeveloped

Credit: A24

I went into The Drama expecting something sharp and emotionally complex, especially with Kristoffer Borgli directing and a cast led by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The premise alone is strong—centered around a single revelation that disrupts relationships just days before a wedding—and it initially feels like the film is setting up something bold and unsettling.… Continue reading The Drama: messy and underdeveloped

SXSW 2026- Family Movie: truly a “family movie” in every sense

At SXSW 2026, I attended the world premiere of Family Movie, and it lives up to its name—truly a “family movie” in every sense. Directed by and starring Kevin Bacon, the film fully embraces its identity as a playful, self-aware farce, and it works best when it simply delivers a fun, chaotic ride. The story… Continue reading SXSW 2026- Family Movie: truly a “family movie” in every sense

SXSW 2026- Dead Deer High: resonates on multiple levels

At SXSW 2026, I saw the world premiere of Dead Deer High, a film that hits on a deeply personal level—especially for anyone who has spent time in a classroom or understands the burden teachers carry. Directed by Jo Rochelle and written by Joshua Roark, the film follows a high school slam poetry team and… Continue reading SXSW 2026- Dead Deer High: resonates on multiple levels