Austin Film Festival Some people have remarkable talent. Others discover a purpose that gives their gifts extraordinary meaning. Lois Gibson, the fascinating subject of director Pat Kondelis’ documentary The Sketch Artist, possesses both. Screening at the 2026 Austin Film Festival, the film introduces audiences to a woman whose artistic abilities have helped law enforcement identify… Continue reading The Sketch Artist – An Extraordinary Talent for Justice
Author: Laurie Coker
The Debut – A Delightfully Satirical Opening Night at Austin Film Festival
There is something wonderfully entertaining about watching people take themselves far too seriously, especially in community theater. Jesse Eisenberg understands this perfectly, and his film The Debut offers a delightfully satirical look at theatrical ambition, oversized egos, and the absurd lengths people sometimes go to in the name of art. The 105-minute musical comedy opened… Continue reading The Debut – A Delightfully Satirical Opening Night at Austin Film Festival
GHOST IN THE CELL: a bloody, bizarre, and silly trip behind bars
Fantastic Fest 2026 Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar knows how to make an impression, and his latest horror-comedy, Ghost in the Cell, does so with plenty of blood, outrageous situations, and an assortment of characters as entertaining as they are unpredictable. Screened at a film festival, the film proved an unusual mix of supernatural horror, dark… Continue reading GHOST IN THE CELL: a bloody, bizarre, and silly trip behind bars
Runner: plenty of action and ample laughs
Alan Ritchson brings the muscle, Owen Wilson brings the chatter, and Runner delivers enough vehicular destruction to make a defensive-driving instructor weep. Scott Waugh directs this action comedy, which keeps its premise simple and its leads exceedingly busy. The mayhem has little substance, but I found plenty of excitement in watching this unlikely pair attempt a very… Continue reading Runner: plenty of action and ample laughs
Blood Countess: A Lavish Vampire Comedy That Overstays Its Welcome
Fantastic Fest 2026 The Blood Countess has enough color, costuming, and elaborate scenery to keep the eyes occupied long after the story should have wrapped up. At Fantastic Fest, I admired its visual extravagance while wishing someone had edited it more firmly. This peculiar vampire comedy offers plenty to appreciate, including a solid cast and… Continue reading Blood Countess: A Lavish Vampire Comedy That Overstays Its Welcome
The Swallow Review: killer mud and a familiar horror formula
Fantastic Fest 2026 I saw The Swallow at a morning press screening early in Fantastic Fest, under embargo because it was reserved for the festival’s closing night. In retrospect, that scheduling worked out well for me. Had I spent a ticket and my final evening of the festival watching people battle an oozing, sucking pool… Continue reading The Swallow Review: killer mud and a familiar horror formula
Adult Supervision Review: exceptional performances make this Swedish drama disturbingly real
Fantastic Fest 2026 Some films are unsettling because their worlds are unfamiliar. Adult Supervision disturbed me because its behavior felt all too recognizable. This Swedish film, written and directed by Alex Schulman, exposes a side of people—especially teenagers—that we hope does not exist but know does. I found it difficult to watch at times, largely… Continue reading Adult Supervision Review: exceptional performances make this Swedish drama disturbingly real
The Squirrel Review: a clever, thoughtful comedy about a world too perfect to live in
Fantastic Fest 2026 A spotless world where everything is carefully managed might sound appealing until someone realizes how much has been removed to keep it that way. The Squirrel, which I really enjoyed at Fantastic Fest, takes that idea and builds a clever, unusual story around one man and a small animal that refuses to… Continue reading The Squirrel Review: a clever, thoughtful comedy about a world too perfect to live in
Posthumous Review: a strange family mystery among Fantastic Fest’s better offerings
Posthumous was one of the better offerings I saw at this year’s Fantastic Fest. Director Josh Tanner builds a strange, unsettling story around grief, family secrets, and the unease of discovering that the past may not be quite what it seemed. It is certainly weird, but its mystery gave me a reason to stay interested… Continue reading Posthumous Review: a strange family mystery among Fantastic Fest’s better offerings
Alpha Gang Review: An All-Star Alien Comedy That Gets Lost in Its Own Weirdness
Fantastic Fest 2026 Alpha Gang was one of the strangest films I saw at Fantastic Fest 2026, and I am still not entirely sure what to make of it. Directed by David and Nathan Zellner, this science-fiction comedy pairs an impressive cast with vivid colors, memorable costumes, and an enthusiastic commitment to absurdity. It was… Continue reading Alpha Gang Review: An All-Star Alien Comedy That Gets Lost in Its Own Weirdness