Category: Festivals

Sitges Film Festival Review: THE OLD WAYS

By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ There have been several horror cinematic efforts to convey aspects of the Mexican culture when it comes to rituals for healing, often labeled as witchcraft by individuals who are not familiar with the culture and/or how some maladies are cured before modern medicine of the West was introduced.  Some scripts… Continue reading Sitges Film Festival Review: THE OLD WAYS

A Celebration of Fantastic Fest 2020 Review: TEDDY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Even though I began my virtual festival a day early with a screener, the actual virtual fest began the following night with a beastly opener from France. Every Fantastic Fest has a central theme, and usually the festival highlights and celebrates the films of a particular… Continue reading A Celebration of Fantastic Fest 2020 Review: TEDDY

A Celebration of Fantastic Fest 2020: LAUGHTER

By Mark Saldana Rating 4 (Out of 4 Stars) This French Canadian entry is not what one might expect from Fantastic Fest, and I do sincerely mean that in the best possible way. Don’t get me completely wrong. I absolutely relish the popcorn horror flicks and entertaining, comedic thrillers and action movies, but this movie… Continue reading A Celebration of Fantastic Fest 2020: LAUGHTER

A Celebration of Fantastic Fest Review: THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer/director/actor Jim Cummings first got my attention when I experienced his feature film debut Thunder Road at 2018’s SXSW Film Festival. Because Cummings created and starred in an incredible, low budget indie pic that hits all the right notes, I was truly blown away by his… Continue reading A Celebration of Fantastic Fest Review: THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW

A Celebration of Fantastic Fest Review: THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) When it comes to Fantastic Fest thrillers, this movie has just about everything one would want from this type of movie. This has harrowing action, tight, nail-biting action, visceral violence, and of course blood and gore. In addition to this lovable qualities, The Boy Behind The… Continue reading A Celebration of Fantastic Fest Review: THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR

A Celebration of Fantastic Fest Review: THE STYLIST

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) I began my virtual festival with this dark tale of obsession and envy. Writer/director Jill Gervargizian puts a more compelling spin on this type of story by making a psychotic killer the protagonist of her film, and a sympathetic one at that. To make things even… Continue reading A Celebration of Fantastic Fest Review: THE STYLIST

SXSW 2020 Review: I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Brian Belovitch has lived a rather fascinating life. Through his childhood, he endured physical and verbal abuse by his father, in addition to feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, and feeling completely unloved and out of place. Brian would later spend his young, adult years in… Continue reading SXSW 2020 Review: I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME

SXSW 2020 Review: GUNPOWDER HEART

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From Guatemala comes this tremendously powerful film from writer/director Camila Urrutia who makes her feature film debut here. Urrutia tells the story of two girlfriends enjoying life and love in an impoverished country with few opportunities for prosperity. On one life-changing night, Claudia (Andrea Henry) and… Continue reading SXSW 2020 Review: GUNPOWDER HEART