Austin Film Festival News: Sell Out – Austin Filmmakers and Cast Sounds Like a Blast

Sell Out, written and directed by brothers Nick and Josh Holden, will have its world premiere at the 32nd Annual Austin Film Festival. The Holden brothers’ first feature film, The Golden Rut, premiered at the 2016 Austin Film Festival. The filmmakers shared this statement through a press release: “We are beyond excited to share this… Continue reading Austin Film Festival News: Sell Out – Austin Filmmakers and Cast Sounds Like a Blast

Critica de cine Fantastic Fest: Black Phone 2 – Sustos fantásticos de un elenco excelente

Vi The Black Phone (2021) y me emocionó saber que habría una secuela. Cuando supe que el Fantastic Fest de este año ofrecería Black Phone 2, se convirtió fácilmente en una película muy esperada por mí en el festival de este año. Siempre es un gran momento en el festival estar sentado en un cine… Continue reading Critica de cine Fantastic Fest: Black Phone 2 – Sustos fantásticos de un elenco excelente

Fantastic Fest 2025: IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU Features An Incredible Turn By Rose Byrne

Though not the typical Fantastic Fest movie, I was nevertheless thrilled that the programmers included this incredible film by writer/director Mary Bronstein. It is definitely not a very entertaining or amusing film (though it has its moments of fun and humor), but it is undoubtedly a phenomenal experience. Leading the film’s cast is the lovable… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU Features An Incredible Turn By Rose Byrne

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

AFF 25 News: Austin Film Festival taking place October 23-30, Offers Many Premieres

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) returns for its 32nd annual festival, taking place from October 23 to 30, and offering high-profile world premieres, Texas premieres, and the renowned Writers Conference, held from October 23 to 26. The festival celebrates the art of storytelling on both the screen and the page. The writing and filmmaking partners… Continue reading AFF 25 News: Austin Film Festival taking place October 23-30, Offers Many Premieres

SXSW 2025 Movie Review: GOOD BOY Delivers Creepy Horror With A Canine Protagonist

This wonderful midnighter entry asks, Have you ever wondered why your dog has fixated on something that doesn’t appear to the human eyes? Director Ben Leonberg painstakingly offers a possible answer to this question with a horror-thriller that follows a dog’s experiences as he notices a malevolent force threatens his beloved owner. The director’s dog,… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: GOOD BOY Delivers Creepy Horror With A Canine Protagonist

Fantastic Fest 2025: COYOTES Delivers B-Movie Amusement

Fantastic Fest consistently offers its participants a diverse and entertaining selection of films, often featuring a wild and unusual variety. Coyotes is an utterly absurd film, but it is usually funny and sometimes suspenseful. It is a B-movie that makes no pretensions about what it is delivering, and that, alone, is part of the fun.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: COYOTES Delivers B-Movie Amusement

Fantastic Fest 2025: The Vile from Emirati Filmmaker wins Best Horror Film

The Vile is the latest intense horror/psychological thriller from acclaimed Emirati filmmaker and genre master Majid Al Ansari (Zinzana, The Intruder, “Paranormal” series). The alum of Fantastic Fest made his 2025 return with the world premiere of The Vile, shot entirely on 16mm film. His debut feature was Zinzana (Rattle The Cage) in 2015. The… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: The Vile from Emirati Filmmaker wins Best Horror Film

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)