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
Author: Laurie Coker
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
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
SXSW 2026 – The Saviors: doesn’t quite hit its target
The Saviors is one of those films I wanted to like more than I did. It has a compelling setup, a strong cast, and a clear intention behind what it’s trying to say. To be fair, there were moments when it genuinely pulled me in. I found parts of the mystery engaging, even if I… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – The Saviors: doesn’t quite hit its target
SXSW 2026 – Love Language: enough sincerity and charm along the way to make it enjoyable
Love Language feels like the kind of romantic comedy that’s trying to be a little more thoughtful than most, even if it doesn’t always get there smoothly. Directed by Joey Powers and led by Chloë Grace Moretz, the film centers on Lou, a writer whose career has stalled into writing marketing copy, only to find… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Love Language: enough sincerity and charm along the way to make it enjoyable