SXSW 2024: The Black Sea World Premiered in the Narrative Feature Competition

Indie filmmaker Crystal Moselle (The Wolfpack, 2015) had her latest feature, The Black Sea, world premiere at this month’s 2024 SXSW Film & Television Festival. The film is co-directed by Derrick B. Harden, who also stars as Khalid, a Black man from Brownsville (a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York). As the film begins, a woman… Continue reading SXSW 2024: The Black Sea World Premiered in the Narrative Feature Competition

SXSW 2024: ‘Monkey Man’ – Unleashes Dev Patel’s Action-Fueled Directorial Debut

Photo by Laurie Coker

In the gritty underworld of Mumbai’s underground fight clubs, a masked figure known only as Kid, portrayed with intensity by Dev Patel, endures a brutal existence as a human punching bag. Inspired by the legendary strength of Hanuman, Kid harbors a childhood trauma that fuels his relentless quest for vengeance against those who wronged him.… Continue reading SXSW 2024: ‘Monkey Man’ – Unleashes Dev Patel’s Action-Fueled Directorial Debut

SXSW 2024: Never Look Away – Documentaries Like These Are What Really Educate Society

Lucy Lawless (of ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ fame) makes an astounding arrival with her directorial debut of ‘Never Look Away’, which gives viewers a heartbreaking glimpse into the life of courageous combat camerawoman Margaret Moth and her adventures under gunfire in the 90s… her backstory, and her days in the field with CNN.  Lucy Lawless has… Continue reading SXSW 2024: Never Look Away – Documentaries Like These Are What Really Educate Society

SXSW 2024 Short: LULLABY – forgettable and a little sleepy

Director Chi THAI MIDNIGHT SHORT COMPETITION 2023 – Run Time 14 minutes Horror, Drama Language: Vietnamese UNITED KINGDOM This short offers a glimpse into the life of a female refugee stuck in her unlivable servitude as a seamstress, where she is haunted menacingly by visions of her deceased child who drowned.  The film lacks that… Continue reading SXSW 2024 Short: LULLABY – forgettable and a little sleepy

SXSW 2024: The Moogai – A Haunting Tale of Maternal Terror

Screened at SXSW 2024, Jon Bell’s debut feature, ‘The Moogai, delves into the chilling realm of Aboriginal folklore and maternal paranoia, offering a unique blend of psychological horror and cultural exploration. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Australia, the film follows Sarah and Fergus, a young Aboriginal couple, as they navigate the complexities of parenthood… Continue reading SXSW 2024: The Moogai – A Haunting Tale of Maternal Terror

Fantastic Fest Feature, Riddle of Fire, Arrives in Theaters

The neo-fairytale, set in Wyoming, USA, follows three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother, Julie (Danielle Hoetmer), asks them to run an errand. On the hunt to obtain her favorite blueberry pie, the children are kidnapped by poachers, battle a witch, outwit a huntsman, befriend a fairy, and bond together… Continue reading Fantastic Fest Feature, Riddle of Fire, Arrives in Theaters

SXSW 2024 Short: TOSSERS – Uncontrollable belly laughs, anyone?

Directors: Bryce VAN LEUVEN, Chase BLOCK SXSW 2024 INDEPENDENT TV PILOT COMPETITION 2023 – 33 minutes Comedy, TV Series Hold the phone, stop everything… this comedy tv series was so much fun and the characters so instantly lovable that it simply MUST be green-lit for a full series offering! Everyone from Bryce Van Leuven (who… Continue reading SXSW 2024 Short: TOSSERS – Uncontrollable belly laughs, anyone?

Crítica de cine en SXSW: Road House se reinventa con acción exagerada y escenas de lucha

Esta reinvención [para reinterpretarla o repensarla] de la película de 1989 es una definición que funciona mejor que usar la palabra “remake” para Road House del director Doug Liman (a partir de un guión de Anthony Bagarozzi (The Nice Guys) y Chuck Mondry (Deathless), con R. Lance Hill (un escritor de Road House 1989, también… Continue reading Crítica de cine en SXSW: Road House se reinventa con acción exagerada y escenas de lucha

SXSW 2024: IMMACULATE Has Atmosphere Galore, But Relies Too Much On Jump Scares

When it comes to horror, I don’t mind jump scares, but only if they are well-executed and not at all predictable. Sadly, with all of the positive aspects going for Immaculate, I feel its overreliance on obvious jump frights held this movie back for me. The movie’s aesthetics are gorgeous and remarkable. The lighting, cinematography,… Continue reading SXSW 2024: IMMACULATE Has Atmosphere Galore, But Relies Too Much On Jump Scares

SXSW 2024: CLEMENTE Tells An Inspiring True Story About A Sports Trailblazer

At this year’s SXSW Film & TV festival, I didn’t get to watch many documentaries, but my absolute favorite is Clemente, which tells the story of MLB superstar Roberto Clemente. Writer/director David Altrogge and co-writer Elise Andert present the life and career of the Puerto Rican baseball player who captured the hearts of baseball fans… Continue reading SXSW 2024: CLEMENTE Tells An Inspiring True Story About A Sports Trailblazer