★★★★★ SXSW's Basic, from writer/director Chelsea Devantez, is anything but. This darkly hilarious gem takes an incredibly basic-sounding premise and elevates it around every turn. Two women. One ex boyfriend. Two completely different points of view. On paper, Basic could be a bare-bones indie footnote. Instead, the cast—particularly Leighton Meester and Ashley Park—and a sharp … Continue reading SXSW 2026: Basic
Film Review: EXmas
★★★★ For most sane people, the thought of a random encounter with an ex is too ghastly to comprehend. Jonah Feingold’s Christmas-season rom-com EXmas takes that one step further—not only do you have to see your ex, but you have to spend the season with them and your immediate family. Robbie Amell and Leighton Meester … Continue reading Film Review: EXmas
Film Review: The Weekend Away
★★ Based on the book by Sarah Alderson, Netflix’s The Weekend Away takes that age-old adage about foreign places being prickly and dangerous, and runs with it. It sets itself apart from films such as Turistas and Hostel by keeping the stakes—and violence—relatively low. A mystery angle does not circle around our character with the … Continue reading Film Review: The Weekend Away