Image via SXSW
There's always way too many things that happen at festivals. Scheduling alone is a pain in the ass, and there's always that underlying fear: What if you end up seeing all the wrong things and miss the good stuff? Well, that's why we're here to help. Let us spiritually hold your hand and guide you through the shitshow that is a film festival.
This year's SXSW has tons of exciting movies on its slate, including a new Richard Linklater, the return of Pee-wee Herman, and some unknown horrors brewing here and there. But below are the best of the best picks—what everybody is, and should be, talking about—and a little bonus perk about why we, your trusted source, are excited about them. If you can't make it to SXSW Film this year, bookmark this page and revisit the list for when these films get theatrical releases.
In a Valley of Violence
Directed by: Ti West
Cast: Ethan Hawke, John Travolta, James Ransone, Karen Gillan, Taissa Farmiga
SXSW premiere: Sat., March 12
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: Filmmaker Ti West (The House of the Devil) is a horror maestro in the making. All we really know about her next movie is that it's a "revenge Western"—what could that mean? How damn violent is this bloody valley gonna get? Crossing fingers this is better than The Hateful Eight.
Everybody Wants Some
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Cast: Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman
SXSW premiere: Fri., March 11
Theatrical release: April
Why we're excited: This is the "spiritual sequel" to Dazed and Confused, so if you're itching with nostalgia, Linklater brings you an extension of his beloved 1993 stoner comedy, fast-forwarding the scene from the '70s to the '80s. Like its prequel, Everybody Wants Some also seems like a movie about, well, not much—just a lot of brotherly bonding and young people finding themselves. But it's penned by Linklater, who's always had a je ne sais quoi about his way of screenwriting. Sure this might be a bit bro-y for those who prefer the sadder Linklaters, but it should be a fun watch for the period piece element alone.
Sausage Party (Work in Progress)
Directed by: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon
Cast: Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Edward Norton, Kristen Wiig, Salma Hayek, Paul Rudd, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, James Franco
SXSW premiere: Mon., March 14
Theatrical release: Aug. 12
Why we're excited: Because everyone famous is in this animated film about, erm, a sausage on a mission to find himself? Sounds too weird not to pass up. This year's SXSW is screening a work-in-progress version of the film scripted by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. There's NO WAY this isn't the funniest thing in the entire festival.
Morris From America
Directed by: Chad Hartigan
Cast: Craig Robinson, Carla Juri, Markees Christmas, Lina Keller
SXSW premiere: Mon., March 14
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: One, the film is distributed by A24 Films, whose taste in film we trust blindly, but two, this is an awkward coming-of-age of a newly teenaged American boy named Morris living in Germany. Morris wants to be the next Notorious B.I.G., and in his efforts to fit in in a foreign country, he falls in love. Aw, shucks, this is gonna be cute as hell.
Beware the Slenderman
Directed by: Irene Taylor Brodsky
Cast: N/A (Documentary)
SXSW premiere: Fri., March 11
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: This doc follows the terrifying real-life story of two 12-year-old girls who tried to kill their best friend, leaving her in the woods with 19 stab wounds, because they believed they were doing deeds for an Internet-borne boogeyman, the Slenderman. The film interviews family members of the kids involved, and explores the psychology of the tragedy.
Jean of the Joneses
Directed by: Stella Meghie
Cast: Taylour Paige, Sherri Shepherd, Erica Ash, Gloria Reuben
SXSW premiere: Sun., March 13
Theatrical release: June 1
Why we're excited: Because this is just a really good indie dramedy that'll have you giggling, cringing, and maybe crying a bit too. The film follows a family of strong-minded women (the Joneses) who learn to deal with each other after their patriarch dies. And hey, mad props for diversity! The entire cast is made up of black women, who play roles that aren't grossly stereotyped or tokenized.
Midnight Special
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Cast: Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, Joel Edgerton, Adam Driver, Jaeden Lieberher
SXSW premiere: Sat., March 12
Theatrical release: March 18
Why we're excited: Because this is sci-fi with a Jeff Nichols touch (director of Mud, Take Shelter). The godsend that is Michael Shannon plays father to a gifted son, Alton, who is on the run from authorities and a religious cult of some sort. Intrigued yet? Okay here's more: Joel Edgerton and Kirsten Dunst star alongside someone who should be a bit familiar with sci-fi by now, Adam Driver.
Don't Think Twice
Directed by: Mike Birbiglia
Cast: Gillian Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Birbiglia
SXSW premiere: Sun., March 13
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: It's got a stellar comedic cast, including one-half of Key and Peele, Love star Gillian Jacobs (who we're so, so, so excited about right now), and Birbiglia himself, who also writes and directs. About an improv troupe struggling to make it, this should have a sad-funny Birbiglia brand. Things get extra tense among these friends when one of them gets the big TV break everyone is jealous of.
The Trust
Directed by: Alex Brewer, Benjamin Brewer
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, Jerry Lewis, Sky Ferreira
SXSW premiere: Sun., March 13
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: First of all, just seeing Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, and Sky Ferreira share a screen is all I need to be sold, but this is also some good ol' Cage thriller about a bunch of corrupt cops planning a robbery and a bank trust they stumble upon. Can we also pause to just ponder what Sky Ferreira—so far credited as "Woman" on IMdB—will be doing in this film? And what kind of outfits she'll be rocking?
My Blind Brother
Directed by: Sophie Goodhart
Cast: Jenny Slate, Adam Scott, Zoe Kazan, Nick Kroll
SXSW premiere: Sat., March 12
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: I mean, I'll watch anything with Jenny Slate in it. But also, Nick Kroll and Adam Scott star as brothers—the latter is the blind one, if you couldn't guess that from the above photo—who get in some petty, brotherly competition when they find themselves pining after the same lady.
Tower
Directed by: Keith Maitland
Cast: N/A (Documentary)
SXSW premiere: Sun., March 13
Theatrical release: N/A
Why we're excited: Executive produced by Meredith Vieira and Luke Wilson, this doc tells the story of the University of Texas sniper who held the campus hostage in 1966, wounding three dozen and leaving 16 dead. The doc gives untold witness accounts, along with archival footage and rotoscopic animation, in a story that precedes Columbine, Virginia Tech, and the years of campus shooting tragedies to follow in America. Though this specific case happened 50 years ago, it still makes us reflect on today's gun control issues.
Born to Be Blue
Directed by: Robert Burdreau
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo, Callum Keith Rennie
SXSW premiere: Sun., March 13
Theatrical release: March 25
Why we're excited: The second Ethan Hawke film to make our anticipated movies list is wildly different from the first one (In a Valley of Violence). Hawke steps into the shoes of jazz master Chet Baker in this biopic, which mostly takes place during the 1960s, when he was fighting heroin addiction and trying to make a comeback. Hawke is the kind of dedicated actor who would do justice to his real-life subject, and we're expecting great things from his Baker.
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Directed by: John Lee
Cast: Paul Reubens, Alia Shawkat, Joe Manganiello, Stephanie Beatriz
SXSW premiere: Thurs., March 17
Theatrical release: March 18
Why we're excited: Because WTF Pee-wee Herman is back, and he hasn't aged at all.