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At this year’s festival, I only watched one documentary feature. Enter The Clones of Bruce caught my eye because, after reading the title, I knew what this film is about. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Bruce Lee significantly impacted martial arts, kung fu cinema, and television. However, before he could genuinely attain superstar status,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE

The 2023 edition of Austin’s beloved genre festival, Fantastic Fest, began on Thursday, September 21. TVR’s Laurie Coker, Liz Lopez and yours truly have been in attendance from the beginning. All three of us have partaken from the variety of cinematic offerings in the genres of horror, science-fiction, action, and international movies programmed by the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 News: Festival Award Winners

Gareth Edwards delivers an epic sci-fi fantasy film at Fantastic Fest 2023 and in theaters nationwide on Friday, September 29th. The Rogue One director has given us an impressively stunning, visually exciting take on AI and humankind in the future with a clear and timely message. Surprisingly, he doesn’t put the United States at the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest: The Creator – Intense and Awe-inspiring

Director David Velduque co-wrote the short film Transition (Transición) with writers Ana Pizarro and Marco Laborda. Transition tells the story of an elderly trans woman, Angela, who lives alone, fearful of strangers and change. When the arrival of a new caregiver upends her reality, she struggles to come to terms with truth vs. fantasy. I… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 Film Review: Transition film from Spain debuts in the Shorts Fuse

How many times have you heard of someone like what someone else has, work, relationships, etc.? Not only like what someone else has but to the point of saying or demonstrating, they want it too. It is not unusual to learn that someone also takes extreme measures to access or secure the coveted “thing.” What… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 Film Review: What You Wish For

I was initially bewildered by the idea of “remaking” the Troma cult classic, The Toxic Avenger when it was first announced that it would open this year’s Fantastic Fest. As a fan of all kinds of cinema, my first reaction is normal. I am sure several fans of the original film currently feel this way,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: THE TOXIC AVENGER

True crime, murder porn (as some call it), and serial killers, like train wrecks, mesmerize many. People seem fascinated by podcasts, shows like Dateline and Cold Case Files, and movies depicting the likes of Ted Bundy and Son of Sam and all those who came before and after. In line with public appeal, Strange Darling… Continue reading Fantastic Fest: Strange Darling – a Thriller filled with Surprises

Gems pop up unexpectedly at festivals. Sometimes more than anticipated. This year’s Fantastic Fest has several. My favorite so far is The Last Stop in Yuma County, starring Jim Cummings, for its quirky western (not a western) feel and well-crafted scenarios and characters. Writer/director Francis Galluppi creates a clever, crisp, and crafty situation that builds,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest: Last Stop in Yuma County – Not a Typical Western