The Heart in this Film is Uniquely Tremendous This is a phenomenally touching drama depicting a father’s quest to maintain his relationship with his daughter after a divorce in the face of heavy PTSD and thoughts of suicide after active military duty. The film is a love letter to veterans, honoring them in such a… Continue reading SXSW 2026 Film Review: The Pirate King
Author: Jordi Levinrad
SXSW26 Film Review: Forbidden Fruits
***spoilers ahead*** Fun and Evil with a Touch of Yawns Forbidden Fruits is a horror-comedy adapted from a play by Lily Houghton and starring Lili Reinhart (Riverdale), Lola Tung (The Summer I Turned Pretty), and Victoria Pedretti (You). There is no denying it: Lili Reinhart is absolute magic on screen. She has been oozing charisma… Continue reading SXSW26 Film Review: Forbidden Fruits
SXSW 2026 Film Review: Chasing Summer
There is something inherently perfect about watching a specific film premiere at SXSW that also serves as a vibrant, adorable love letter to the Lone Star State. Since most of the production was shot right here in Texas, the atmosphere at the premiere screening was electric. A perfect match for a film that leans into… Continue reading SXSW 2026 Film Review: Chasing Summer
SXSW 2026 Film Review: The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel
The New GOAT of Music Documentaries Last week I was fortunate enough to witness the premiere of my new favorite music documentary, The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel. Please enjoy my review… and just a heads-up, it contains some spoilers. On a personal note, my respect and admiration for this… Continue reading SXSW 2026 Film Review: The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel
SXSW 2026 Film Review: Mam
***Spoilers ahead*** ‘Mam’ is a triumph in its own beautiful, charming, and simplistic way. In this documentary-style fiction film, we watch a young man struggling in the New York iron jungle to build his life as we slowly learn that his real dream is to own a restaurant, where he can bring his Vietnamese culinary… Continue reading SXSW 2026 Film Review: Mam
Film Review: Undertone
Sonic Highs and Narrative Lows ***Note: This review contains spoilers.*** Undertone attempts to carve out a niche in the “analog horror” subgenre, relying heavily on the psychological weight of what is heard rather than what is seen. Starring Isabella Wright as the isolated protagonist, the film leans on her ability to convey mounting hysteria while… Continue reading Film Review: Undertone
Film Review: Crime 101
High Stakes, Low Originality There is a specific kind of disappointment that comes with a “pre-release” screening. You walk in hoping to be the first to see a modern classic, especially with a heavy-hitting Don Winslow adaptation and an epic cast like this. Unfortunately, Crime 101 is a movie that spends so much time trying… Continue reading Film Review: Crime 101
Film Review: Eternity
What Eternity will you choose? Imagine when all of us die, that upon leaving Earth, our consciousness then gets to choose from an entire catalogue of different eternities wherein our soul will dwell in the afterlife. You cannot change your selection once you arrive in that eternity, and you cannot ever leave. In that eternity,… Continue reading Film Review: Eternity
The Unexpecteds
A Fun Film Especially For Victims Of Crypto Scams The Unexpecteds is a fast-placed, witty, and energetic independent heist-comedy that cartoonishly balances heart, action, and satire into a fun cinematic experience. Intentionally, I did not delve into any information about this film outside of the basic synopsis provided to me by FonsPR in their screening invitation:… Continue reading The Unexpecteds
Film Review: Hallow Road
You will not laugh, but you may cry… in despair *Some spoilers ahead* Hallow Road is a 2025 psychological suspense thriller where 2 parents Maddie and Frank race to the rescue of their difficult daughter, who calls them after accidentally hitting a girl with her car racing off from her home after a family argument to… Continue reading Film Review: Hallow Road