By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This dramatic horror film from Canada deals with the very traumatic problem of rape and abuse, but offers a more frightening and disturbing take on the aftermath of such trauma. Written and directed by, and starring Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Violation depicts what can happen when a family’s… Continue reading SXSW 2021: VIOLATION
Category: Reviews
SXSW 2021: DEAR MR. BRODY
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) In 1970, Michael James Brody Jr. an heir to oleomargarine millions, publicly announced that he would give away all of the money from his $25 million fortune to anyone who needed it. Known as a “hippie angel,” Brody obviously was not prepared for the massive response… Continue reading SXSW 2021: DEAR MR. BRODY
THE KNOT
By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ Indian writer/director Ashish Pant explores disparaging class divides in his freshman, full-feature film effort, The Knot (Uljhan). The film, starring Vikas Kumar and Saloni Batra rolls along at a slow burn and digs deeply into the chasm that exists between the haves and have nots. Pant’s is suspenseful, although sometimes… Continue reading THE KNOT
GODZILLA VS. KONG
By Laurie Coker Rating: A I still get a chuckle when I think about watching old-school Godzilla movies and the rubbery creature stomping around with people screaming “Godzilla” lips not matching sound. Great stuff! The giant lizard has graced the screen countless times in several different forms, but CGI experts have gone above and amazingly… Continue reading GODZILLA VS. KONG
SXSW 2021: WOMEN IS LOSERS
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Getting into my VIRTUAL SXSW mode, settling into my office chair, and choosing my first film proved a bit more difficult than I imagined compared to face-to-face experiences of past festivals. Once I figured it all out, I chose Women is Losers as the first film I watched. Written and… Continue reading SXSW 2021: WOMEN IS LOSERS
GODZILLA VS. KONG
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After the somewhat frustrating self-seriousness of 2014’s Godzilla and 2019’s Godzilla: King of Monsters, a team of writers and director Adam Wingard have managed to take the goofy fun elements and exciting action of Kong: Skull Island to help steer this latest entry onto its proper… Continue reading GODZILLA VS. KONG
DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Some people often question why so many celebrities have so many problems and issues when they are obviously successful. What do they have to be sad about? These same people usually forget that celebrities were not always famous and that, regardless of their fame, they are… Continue reading DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL
SXSW 2021: BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Inspired by conspiracy thrillers such as Blow Up, The Conversation, and Blow Out, writers Tim Woodall, Phil Drinkwater and director Jacob Gentry offer a more modern take on this type of story, with mostly mixed results. Though the movie has a fascinating premise, I feel that… Continue reading SXSW 2021: BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION
SXSW 2021: WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: THE HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This year, I began my virtual festival a day early with a couple of screeners. The first of which was a screener for a lengthy and comprehensive documentary detailing horror cinema’s and television’s offerings in the subgenre of folk horror. While this film might seem like… Continue reading SXSW 2021: WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: THE HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR
SXSW 2021: WITHOUT GETTING KILLED OR CAUGHT
By Laurie Coker Rating: A Texas music has a life of its own. Whether born in the state or transplanted from elsewhere, stars like Townes van Zandt and Guy Clark left their mark on the industry beyond the Lone Star State’s borders. SXSW documentary, Without Getting Killed or Caught, takes a personal and bare look… Continue reading SXSW 2021: WITHOUT GETTING KILLED OR CAUGHT