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!
Author: Laurie Coker
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- Edie Arnold is a Loser: lost me
Edie Arnold is a Loser ended up being, unfortunately, my least favorite film of SXSW 2026—and not the note I wanted to end the festival on. I went in with reasonable expectations, especially knowing it was a Buzz screening, but I still expected something sharper, funnier, or at least more cohesive than what we got.… Continue reading SXSW 2026- Edie Arnold is a Loser: lost me
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
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
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 – Pretty Lethal: pretty violent, pretty bloody
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
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