Deadstream had its world première at SXSW 2022. First published by Little White Lies. “I’m Shawn Ruddy – and I’m a piece of trash!”, says a chirpy young bearded man, who is played by Joseph Winter, the co-writer, co-director, co-producer and co-editor of Deadstream along with his wife Vanessa. Shawn’s words are as good an…
Hypochrondriac had its world première at SXSW 2022 As its very title implies, Hypochondriac is concerned with symptomatology and its absence, and with pathologies both real and imagined. This preoccupation with therapy is hammered home by a series of sequences involving medical consultations, where a parade of different doctors keeps repeating to protagonist Will (Zach…
Bitch Ass had its world première at SXSW 2022 Bill Posley’s Bitch Ass opens in Academy ratio, with the title Hood Horror Movie Nights written in a cheap-looking font, and with the show’s host tapping out minor-key notes on a piano surrounded by cobwebs and dusty VHS cassettes. Turning to camera, he says: “I’m sure…
No Looking Back (Otorvi i vybros) had its North America première at SXSW 2022 The intent of Kirill Sokolov‘s arresting feature debut Why Don’t You Just Die! (2018) was carefully laid out in its original Russian title, Papa, sdokhni (literally ‘Daddy, die’). For this was to to be a direct assault on the patriarchy, as…
Sissy had its world première at SXSW 2022 At the beginning of Sissy, from co-writing/co-directing team Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes (For Now, 2017), we see online influencer Cecilia (Aisha Dee) preaching the bland bromides of wellness. Yet the hyperventilation exercise that Cecilia has been demonstrating seems not a little unhinged, and as the recording…