You’re Dating a Narcissist! screened at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, and while it’s not the kind of film that reinvents the romantic comedy, it’s an undeniably fun and lively ride. The setup is straightforward: an outspoken psychologist, played by Marisa Tomei, races to Los Angeles with her best friend (the always energetic Sherry Cola)… Continue reading AFF 2025 – You’re Dating a Narcissist: not groundbreaking, but it’s witty, fun, and relatable
Author: Laurie Coker
AFF 2025 – Ethan Bloom: a simple story, big heart, and a lasting impression
I had the pleasure of seeing Ethan Bloom at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, and it turned out to be one of those quiet surprises that sticks with viewers long after the credits roll. On the surface, it’s a modest coming-of-age film about a middle school boy grappling with faith, grief, and first love—but what… Continue reading AFF 2025 – Ethan Bloom: a simple story, big heart, and a lasting impression
AFF 2025 – Cruel Hands:
Some films subtly creep under your skin, tightening their hold until you realize you’ve been holding your breath. Cruel Hands, directed by Al Kalyk and co-written with Matthew Kalyk, is one of those films. I saw it at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, and although I couldn’t stay for the Q&A afterward, the story has… Continue reading AFF 2025 – Cruel Hands:
AFF 2025-Crystal Cross: a story of love, hope, and second chances
Premiering at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, Crystal Cross surprised me in the best way. On paper, it sounds like just another indie road movie—two strangers with baggage hitting the road—but Richie James Follin’s debut as writer, director, and star elevates that premise into something much more heartfelt. It’s a story of love, hope, and… Continue reading AFF 2025-Crystal Cross: a story of love, hope, and second chances
FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Shelby Oaks: smart, eerie, emotionally grounded
I entered Shelby Oaks at Fantastic Fest 2025 with fairly modest expectations — the premise sounded quite familiar, and I half-expected another typical horror mystery. Instead, I left surprised by how much the film stayed with me. It’s not perfect, but it’s smarter, eerier, and more emotionally grounded than I expected, with moments that truly… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Shelby Oaks: smart, eerie, emotionally grounded
FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Answering the Call Again – Black Phone 2 Delivers Chilling Tension and Strong Returns
Black Phone 2 proves that some nightmares never really end. Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written with C. Robert Cargill, the film picks up four years after Finn killed his abductor and escaped, leaving him the only survivor of The Grabber. Finn, now a teenager, carries a hard-earned edge, while his sister Gwen is still haunted… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Answering the Call Again – Black Phone 2 Delivers Chilling Tension and Strong Returns
Monster Within: built on sincerity and ambition
Some films have all the right ingredients — a heartfelt premise, a meaningful metaphor, and a profoundly personal creative vision — yet still struggle to come together fully. Monsters Within, written, directed, produced, and led by Devin Montgomery (Worm), is one of those films. It’s a project built on sincerity and ambition, but its execution… Continue reading Monster Within: built on sincerity and ambition
Shakey Grounds:
Some films arrive with modest ambitions and humble budgets but still manage to reach for something deeper — a sense of emotional truth, a spark of humanity that lingers after the credits. Shakey Grounds, directed by Michael Garcia and written by Trace Slobotkin, fits neatly into that category. It’s a small, heartfelt drama that doesn’t… Continue reading Shakey Grounds:
FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Vicious: incoherent, overwrought exercise in nonsense
Some films try to unsettle and challenge audiences with psychological tension and emotional depth. Vicious, unfortunately, does neither. Marketed as a psychological thriller, it ends up as an incoherent, overwrought exercise in nonsense — a film that confuses moodiness for meaning and atmosphere for actual storytelling. The story follows Polly (Dakota Fanning), who receives a… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Vicious: incoherent, overwrought exercise in nonsense
FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Chocolate (2008, Remastered)
I’ll admit it: I had never seen Chocolate before this year’s Fantastic Fest. Now that I have, I’m kicking myself for missing out on one of the most exhilarating and emotionally satisfying action films of the 2000s. Presented in a stunning 35mm remaster for the festival’s 20th anniversary celebration, Chocolate is more than deserving of… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Chocolate (2008, Remastered)