Category: Festivals

Over Your Dead Body is one of those films that knows exactly what it is—and embraces it with a grin, fitting the theme that SXSW programmers appeared to promote for this festival – graphic violence and broken people. Directed by Jorma Taccone, the premise is deliciously simple: a dysfunctional couple heads to a remote cabin under the… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Over Your Dead Body: a fun, energetic mix of action, comedy, and thriller

At the 2021 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, I enjoyed a hilarious, yet tremendously violent, action-comedy-thriller from Norway titled The Trip. In the U.S., this movie didn’t get a theatrical release, but it was picked up by Netflix, so it probably didn’t get the attention it deserved, and unfortunately, it became a faded memory for… Continue reading SXSW 2026: OVER YOUR DEAD BODY – A Suprisingly Great Remake of An Also Great Norwegian Film

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!

On the fourth evening of the festival, the SXSW programmers gave us a rare treat–they screened a movie on 35mm film. These days, it is pretty rare to see a modern movie in theaters presented in the old-school format. For most cinephiles, watching movies this way happens only maybe once or twice a year. The… Continue reading SXSW 2026: NORMAL– Action Odenkirk Is Back!

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

When the SXSW Film and Television Festival announcements were made for 2026, I absolutely knew there were two films at the top of my list. On March 15, it was Los Lobos Native Sons, and on the final day of the festival, March 18th, was A Cowboy in London by filmmaker Jared Christopher, who directed,… Continue reading SXSW 2026 Review: A Cowboy in London at State Theatre

Two college roommates decide to get high and order a pizza. Sounds simple enough, but when they get high on an experimental hallucinogen, this turns a simple plan into a bizarre, absurd quest. Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) and Sean Giambrone star as Jack and Montgomery, two college misfits frustrated by their social status. While Montgomery… Continue reading SXSW 2026: PIZZA MOVIE Turns Ordering A Pizza Into An Absurd Affair

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