The Fallout is an all-too-real, heart wrenching story of one girl’s attempt to come to terms with a school shooting. Jenna Ortega’s award worthy performance will leave you praying for a better tomorrow. This film premiered at SXSW Online on March 17, 2021.
Movie Review – John Wick action meets Home Alone horror in Odenkirk’s turn as ‘Nobody’
I’ll preface this review with I love LOVE! Bob Odenkirk. From his sketch-comedy stint at HBO, Mr. Show in the ’90s, to the role he was born to play in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Saul Goodman. There’s a cool, quiet swagger about the guy and an infectious delivery perfect for this next chapter in his career: his own hero (assassin) franchise.
Curtain Raiser – Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror [SXSW]
Folk horror is an alien term to even hard-core horror fans, but it’s a foundation for many of our modern classics. With Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, author and lecturer Kier-La Janisse brings an impressive group of learned authors, filmmakers, and scholars to give an exhaustive tour of British folk horror with the Grand Daddies – 1968’s Witchfinder General”, 1973’s “The Wicker Man,” 1971’s “The Blood on Satan’s Claw”, the outsider transgressing on old traditions and older gods.
Movie Review – ‘How It Ends’ should never have begun [SXSW]
With most actors out of work due to the pandemic, Lister-Jones employed many of her funny friends to join her on How It Ends — Nick Kroll, Charlie Day, Fred Armisen, and Whitney Cummings, to name a few would generally be positive. Sadly, even these comedic talents can’t save a weak script that is so profoundly philosophical that it feels as if it is required viewing for a college class. This film premiered at SXSW Online on March 18, 2021.
Movie Review – Violation [SXSW]
Violation (2021) has picked up distribution through the horror streaming service Shudder and is Unrated. By my little eye, it would be Rated-R for full-frontal male nudity, swears, mostly off-camera rape, people being bludgeoned, burned, pulverized, etc. This film premiered at SXSW Online on March 18, 2021.
TV Review – ‘Cruel Summer’ brings Spring mystery [SXSW]
Fans of Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars will salivate over Freeform’s ‘Cruel Summer’ as they attempt to unravel the mysterious disappearance of popular girl Kate (Olivia Holt) and how fellow classmate Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia) was involved. The show premiered at SXSW Online on March 18, 2021.
Movie Review – Swan Song [SXSW]
Simultaneously touching and twee, Swan Song (2021) showcases Udo Keir’s flair for the dramatic. It may not seem as polished as some entries, but the rough quality director Todd Stephens gives Swan Song adds an authentic feel. This film premiered at SXSW Online on March 18, 2021.
Movie Review – WeWork: or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn [SXSW]
WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn is a wild ride of venture idealistic dreams, over-reaching idealism, and at its heart corporate cultism. WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn premiered at SXSW Online on March 17, 2021.
Movie Review – Jakob’s Wife [SXSW]
Jakob’s Wife has picked up distribution through the horror streaming service Shudder and is Unrated. By my little eye, it would be Rated-R for swears, sexy-times, nudity, staking, throat-ripping, and tubs of blood. The film premiered at SXSW Online on March 17, 2021.
Movie Review – Here Before [SXSW]
Here Before (2021) is Unrated and other than the palpable tension, has no on-screen blood, no child injuries, sex, no violence, other than emotional trauma. Here Before is currently seeking U.S. distribution. This film premiered at SXSW Online on March 17, 2021.
Movie Review – Female comedians bring laughs, honest reality to ‘Hysterical’ doc [SXSW]
FX’s documentary Hysterical provides an inside look at the challenges and history of female comedians — from Moms Mabley in the 1920s to today’s hottest comics like Nikki Glaser and Iliza Shlesinger — why they got into comedy, the uphill battle they faced, their role models, and the road ahead that is still being paved. This film premiered at SXSW Online on March 16, 2021.
Movie Review – ‘The Courier’ delivers for the most discerning spy-thriller fans
There’s enough offered throughout The Courier to hold the attention of discerning fans of the genre and perhaps even those with a penchant for more action-based spy-thrillers come the third act. The credits allow a glimpse into the real Greville Wynne and his “regular” guy manners, underscoring that regular people are doing brave and audacious things every day. It just so happens this guy had a hand in saving us all.