We don’t know about you, but having your skin crawl in a theater with 100 people is a very cool experience. At SXSW, you can multiply that by ten. With one big franchise crashing the party and plenty of scary things just on the outskirts, horror is alive and well at SXSW. Check out our most anticipated below.
Evil Dead Rise – Directed by Lee Cronin
Call us basic, but yeah, we are very into Evil Dead returning to theaters. The Red Band trailer might be the best we’ve ever seen, and this one looks particularly nasty. If Evil Dead Rise makes the impact we’re expecting, it’s going to shake up Austin very quickly. WB has enough faith in it to push it to theaters (after it was HBOMax bound), and the effort behind the release speaks volumes.
Brooklyn 45 – Directed by Ted Geoghegan
A post-World War II seance seems like quite the party. Already picked up by Shudder, this one promises to be one of the more unique features at SXSW. Geoghegan already established himself with Mohawk and We Are Still Here, both underrated horror flicks in their own right. With a high-concept premise and a gnarly ghost story promised, Brooklyn 45 should be right up our alley.
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster – Directed by Bomani J. Story
Waking the dead rarely works out for anyone. However, bringing your brother back from the dead carries some serious repercussions. Bomani J. Story helms the Frankenstein-inspired tale about a girl mourning the loss of her brother after his brutal murder. There are a lot of ways to see how this could go wrong, but count us in for the madness.
It Lives Inside – Directed by Bishal Dutta
Demons often pave the way toward some really freaky flicks. It Lives Inside offers a unique perspective on its monsters, opening the door. Putting an Indian-American teen at the center of things will open the door for interesting discussions. Yet, adding in the general darkness that being a teenager creates in anyone should make this a nice, multilayered experience.
Late Night With the Devil – Directed by Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
David Dastmalchian may not be a household name, but he certainly inspires faith from those in the know. Dastmalchian’s path to a leading man might be unconventional, but it also plays to his strengths as a character actor. After several great supporting performances in the last decade, Dastmalchian gets his chance to go big in one of the most interesting horror films of the festival.
Appendage – Directed by Anna Zlokovic
Monster movies and creature features rule. When they’re done with practical effects, even better. Do not sleep on Appendage, which profiles as one of the more upsetting films about mental health deterioration. Star Hadley Robinson had a surprisingly good but below-the-radar 2022. With a fun cast that includes Emily Hampshire and Brandon Mychal Smith, Appendage should have some well-delivered dialogue to match the intriguing premise.
Monolith – Directed by Matt Vesely
A few years ago, a little picture called The Vast of Night broke through the sci-barrier. It was quiet and personal, which made it something of a unique entry in a genre known for it’s bombastic visuals. Monolith, from director Matt Vesely, is looking to repeat that vibe. Forcing us to live with a single character as she stumbles down a rabbit hole conspiracy in search of a potential alien artifact should make for an interesting experiment at the very least.
Furies – Directed by Veronica Ngo
The promise of a Vietnamese blood-soaked romp shot this one up the charts. Director Veronica Ngo looks to genres here, citing fight training, dramatic backstories, and a mission in its premise. Even the promo image looks exciting, not only with it’s promise of blood but its vibrant color palette.
