★★★★ It takes a truly great documentary to interest me, and Spaz is definitely one of the better ones I have seen recently. For any voracious lover of cinema—especially Terminator 2: Judgement Day or Jurassic Park—this one is for you! Ever wonder how on earth we made the transition from the practical effects of the … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Spaz
SXSW 2022: Soft & Quiet
★★★★ Soft & Quiet has to be one of the most uncomfortable movies I have ever watched. Debuting at 2022’s SXSW Film Festival, this searing thriller essentially follows a white supremacist group of females presenting themselves as the so-called Daughters for Aryan Unity. Throughout the course of the movie, this group’s mantra about supporting one another … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Soft & Quiet
SXSW 2022: Pretty Problems
★★★★ An unconventional adult love story oozing with awkward charm, Pretty Problems manages to steadfastly churn entertainment from relatable dumb-couple issues and privileged, borderline-satirical rich-bitch characters. For a movie that opens with an unsatisfying sex scene in which both leads settle for a “good try” before soldiering on with their day, I was genuinely surprised … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Pretty Problems
SXSW 2022: Mama Bears
★★★ The intersection of religion and sexuality is more like a crayon-scribble than a seamless coexistence, and SXSW documentary Mama Bears has set out to prove that gay Christians do truly exist. This docu-drama focuses on a few different sets of parents grappling with the gender identity and sexual orientation of their children. Mama Bears … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Mama Bears
SXSW 2022: Shining Girls
Last year’s SXSW Film Festival saw a host of excellent television show premieres, including Them, Made for Love, and the Freeform breakout, Cruel Summer. This year may be decidedly less stacked on the television front; however, a couple of options broke out of the gate early to show promise. Based on the novel by Lauren … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Shining Girls
SXSW 2022: The Cellar
★★★ Snagged by horror streaming service Shudder ahead of its South by Southwest Film Festival debut, The Cellar is a cerebral and haunting film from director Brendan Muldowney. According to the kids at school, the new home of the Woods family was once owned by a witch who made a pact with the devil. Sounds … Continue reading SXSW 2022: The Cellar
SXSW 2022: Clean
★★★ (Written by Allison Brown) Clean, directed by Lachlan Mcleod, is a singular look into the niche industry of trauma cleaning services, as well as a deep dive into the life of its most notable success story, Sandra Pankhurst. Sandra defines trauma as “an incident that happens out of the blue;” her service covers cleaning … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Clean
SXSW 2022: Linoleum
★★★★ (Written by Allison Brown) In the final few minutes of SXSW selection Linoleum, I was in tears, speechless, and yearning desperately to find another critic who also watched so I could talk about it. I am honestly in awe of the film’s setup, intelligent script, adept foreshadowing, and layered performances, particularly from Jim Gaffigan … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Linoleum
SXSW 2022: Shadow
★★★★ (Written by Intern, Megan Davis) How does a group get their message across when its members are not a unified front? Based on the stage production The Shadow Whose Prey The Hunter Becomes, Brian Gladwin’s Shadow is a look into the harsh reality of the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. What is meant … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Shadow
SXSW 2022: Raquel 1:1
★★★★ (Written by Allison Brown) Raquel 1:1, directed by Mariana Bastos, is a horror-adjacent feminist thriller that packs a heavy punch. As someone who doesn’t take religion very seriously, I was excited to see what this film had to offer. It could either be something preachy I could not stand, or destroy all that pious … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Raquel 1:1