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‘The Exit State” Shows That Sometimes Hell is Other People
The Exit State
A group of American citizens flew to the Mexicans border to escape an authoritarian government.
Score: 9/10Director / Writer: Gabriela Ledesma w. addit writing by Callie Schuttera, Josh GeorgeStarring: Callie Schuttera, Josh George, Jeremy D Howard, Nikki Dixon, Clayton Farris, Stakiah Lynn WashingtonGenre: political thriller, horror, indie,Runtime: 1hr 32minRelease: 10/23/2026Excerpt
Self preservation is important, but you can’t survive without people. And it turns out that sometimes you can’t survive with them. Gabriela Ledesma’s excellent film "The Exit State" shines light on the darkness of the human soul.
When the Enemy Looks Like Us
Our Escapees: (l-r) Jordan (Nikki Dixon), Andrew (Clayton Farris), Zoey (Cindy Nguyen), Tori (Stakiah Lynn Washington) and Rome (Jeremy D. Howard) in The Exit State What happens when trusting humanity becomes a liability? It’s a terrifying thing to think about, especially being raised in a community where at the end of the day our humanity is supposed to bind us. Yes, self preservation is important, but you can’t survive without people. And it turns out that sometimes you can’t survive with them. Gabriela Ledesma’s excellent film The Exit State (2026) shines light on the darkness of the human soul.
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“Line of Control” Bears Witness to the Fallen
Line of Control
In 1993 Kashmir, a teenager searching for his missing best friend is forced by an Indian Army captain to collect identification cards from a valley of corpses, becoming an outcast in his own village while fearing his friend may be among the dead.
Score: 8/10Director / Writer: Travis Hodgkins (based on The Collaborator by Mirza Waheed)Starring: Rudi Dharmalingam, Nitin Ganatra, Nikhil Singh Rai, Serdar Altan, Anastasia JairathGenre: war film, international, drama, indieRuntime: 117 MinutesRelease: 2026Excerpt
"Line of Control" is well acted, well scored and shot with greens so bright they’re almost technicolor.
“I Heard Your Footsteps…”
Nikhil Singh Rai in his first role as The Boy in Line of Control Travis Hodgkins’s Line of Control (2026) is an emotional, beautifully produced wartime thriller that will leave the audience with a better idea of the true cost of freedom. Set in the ‘90s leading up to the Kashmir conflict and insurgency, Line of Control is the story of a boy (newcomer Nikhil Singh Rai) and his group of school friends, deciding how best to direct their own journeys into adulthood. Through the lives of the Famous 4 and their loved ones, the audience is led through a hard lesson of war ruining lives, and the deals we make to protect others and the lies we tell to protect ourselves.
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“Party USA” Raises the Roof!
Party USA
When Taylor can’t get her party store shift covered after her dad dies, she makes a deadly mistake that sparks a downward spiral of red, white and blue-collared chaos.
Score: 8/10Director / Writer: Jared Sprouse/Barrett JayStarring: Ainsley Seiger, Phillip Andre Botello, Ben Weinswig, Sharahya Carter, Jorge A. Sanchez, Joe HoenigGenre: thriller, horror, indieRuntime: 89 minRelease: 2026Excerpt
Party USA can also be looked at as a political statement about the danger of white women's tears and the harm they cause to the people of color around them. In Party USA there is a villain, but it may not be who or what you think it is.
Rockin My Hips Like Yeah
Friday (Jorge A. Sanchez) makes promises, promises, promises, and Taylor (Ainsley Seiger) has not choice but to believe them. What happens when after the party, all you’re left with is the hangover? On its face Jared Sprouse’s feature Party USA (2026) is a taut thriller about grief and the things we do to protect ourselves and loved ones. Set under the banner of the deep South, the film explores what happens when your ceiling is zero and your dreams and hopes go as far 1. And while it is certainly that, Party USA can also be looked at as a political statement about the danger of white women’s tears and the harm they cause to the people of color around them. In Party USA there is a villain, but it may not be who or what you think it is.
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“Echoes From the Void” is an Interesting Concept with Flawed Execution
Echoes from the Void
A psychiatrist interviewing a mysterious prisoner finds the line between fiction and reality dissolving as four interconnected tales reveal a sinister force that has existed far longer than anyone imagined.
Score: 6/10Director / Writer: Robert W. Filion / Brad HordStarring: Jaysen Buterin, Amie HenryGenre: anthology, horror, psychological thrillerRuntime: 72Release: 2026Excerpt
I’m always impressed by the ingenuity of directors working with small budgets. To produce what are essentially four short films and put them inside this narrative is quite the feat.
A Horror with Great Potential
Dr. Erin Murphy (Amie Henry) amd Bob (Jaysen Buterin) for Echoes from the Void Dr. Erin Murphy (Amie Henry) is having a bad day. From the moment she’s ripped from sleep and assigned a new case to when she begrudgingly accepts the case and takes a swig from her flask for mettle, it’s clear she’s not exactly excelling at life. She’s a criminal psychologist and her patient is introduced to her only as “Bob” (very Twin Peaks (1990)). Bob was last seen talking to Amy Wells – a young woman who has recently gone missing. As Dr. Murphy tries to gather information on Bob (Jaysen Buterin), the seemingly troubled man decides to take Dr. Murphy on her own journey. They won’t be leaving the room with the security guard posted outside; Dr. Murphy’s journey will be a journey of the mind. Echoes From the Void (2026) is an indie horror anthology that has a creative premise, but the execution may be a bit too mysterious.
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“Cutaways” Keeps it a Little Too Real
Cutaways
A former Sundance award-winning filmmaker, now cancelled by social media, is forced to direct online porn films for a sleazy producer.
Score: 6.5/10Director / Writer: Mark SchwabStarring: James Duval, Silas Kade, Fernando, Jason Caceres, Diogo HausenGenre: comedy, psychological thriller, lgbtq+Runtime: 89Release: 2025Excerpt
There’s self sabotage, and then there’s Mark Schwab’s Cutaways (2025), a queer drama that could easily be touted as a “psychological thriller”. From start to finish Cutaways raises a variety of red flags that you just can’t look away from.
Running Through My Head
Is Andy trying to seduce Evan Quick? For Cutaways There’s self sabotage, and then there’s Mark Schwab’s Cutaways (2025), a queer drama that could easily be touted as a “psychological thriller”. We follow director Evan Quick’s (Silas Kade) fall from favor as he lands in the cradle of sin that is the valley porn industry. The disgraced filmmaker was “canceled” due to allegations of misconduct and forced to direct porn films to keep on the lights. He’s not even doing a great job at that, but he has secured himself a 3 picture deal from local self-made man Sammy (the incomparable James Duvall). From start to finish Cutaways raises a variety of red flags that you just can’t look away from.
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“My Gender is Black” Tackles Heavy Issues with Art
My Gender is Black
"My Gender Is Black" is an experimental documentary exploring how Blackness shapes, complicates, and expands gender identity through masculinity, sexuality, embodiment, performance, vulnerability, and self-definition.
Score: 6/10Director / Writer: Terry BladeStarring: Cristian Julian Chigbolu, Ujah Ogbole, Big Sexy, Jay Hill, Syd Tillman, James BaldwinGenre: documentary, short film, experimentalRuntime: 20Release: 2026Excerpt
The first step towards living in your intersectionalities is being seen, and acknowledging that the things that make us different, also make us human. Terry Blade’s "My Gender is Black (2026)" is an artful reckoning that invites the viewer to figure out where they belong.
Limitless
Intersectionality is an interesting concept that discusses when a person has multiple social identities. A woman may have the same needs as other women, but a Black woman might require specialized care. Whether an Asian queer man, a transgender biracial woman, intersectionalities provide contact to how we interact in this world and how we’re perceived. There are so many ways we can define ourselves! On a clear day, these intersections have working lights that manage the traffic smoothly. But other times – more often than not it seems – you end up with a big ole wreck. However, the first step towards living in your intersectionalities is being seen, and acknowledging that the things that make us different, also make us human. Terry Blade’s My Gender is Black (2026) is an artful reckoning that invites the viewer to figure out where they belong.
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“Wicker” is the Best Movie Material
Wicker
Wicker is a 2026 absurdist romantic comedy directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, releasing in US theaters on October 23, 2026. It stars Olivia Colman as an ostracized fisherwoman who commissions a basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave a sentient wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård). – Wikipedia
Score: 9/10Director / Writer: Alex Huston Fischer, Eleanor Wilson (Adapted from novella by Ursula Wills)Starring: Olivia Coleman, Alexander Skarsgard, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth DebickiGenre: Romance, ComedyRuntime: 1hr 45 minRelease: 10/23/2026Excerpt
All of these pieces along with the cast seem to have a thing for sincerity and dark whimsy and it all culminates in a film that’s equal parts humorous, horny, cringe-inducing and thought-provoking.
What a Man, What a Man, What a Man!
Alexander Skarsgard and Olivia Coleman in Wicker What does it take to make a great movie? You need a firm, but flexible cast, versatile directing and soft cinematography. Separately these items are great,, but when woven together, they create material that’s durable, long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing. And if the fabric is really resistant to wear and tear, you might end up with a piece that’s sentimental and maybe even romantic. Wicker (2026) is an inventive film that asks viewers to consider the many moving parts of desires and how we obtain them.
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“One Day in Sedona” Is a Walking and Talking Beauty
One Day in Sedona
Two strangers in their 50s, both going through pivotal moments in their lives, meet on a hike in Sedona and share a deep connection as they talk about life, love, legacy, and the betterment of humankind.
Score: 8/10Director / Writer: Monique SorgenStarring: Alysia Reiner, Wallace LanghamGenre: romance, dramaRuntime: 90 minRelease: 2026Excerpt
These sorts of passion projects can lend themselves to being overly pretentious or preachy, but Sorgen has created a near perfect balance that gives the viewer lots to love and think about.
One Day in Heaven
Wallace Langham and Alysia Reiner in One Day in Sedona I’ve ranted at length about films that sermonize – the proclivity to make a film touting your beliefs and thoughts on everything whether it’s relevant to the plot and setting or not. It’s very hard to accomplish without being cloying and even harder to do so successfully. So imagine my surprise when Monique Sorgen’s One Day in Sedona graced my screen. It’s a simple film made simply and features two main characters who walk and talk for 90 minutes. And it’s glorious.
We follow Julie (Alysia Reiner) as she weaves through Sedona’s baffling traffic grid, appearing to write a eulogy for her father. She’s thinking about legacy and heads to a local hike spot to clear her mind. She parks next to a motorcyclist that has shown up spontaneously and completely unprepared. Will (Wallace Langham) suddenly found himself with a lot of free time and many more intrusive thoughts. Unfortunately he doesn’t have nearly enough water and Julie graciously offers her tumblr to him. She’s packed a 3 litre pouch in her backpack – another thing Will doesn’t have.
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“Live and Die in East LA” is an Overly Ambitious Yet Occasionally Charming Experimental Film
Live and Die in East LA
After an E.R. doctor treats an injured boy, he is pulled into the world of gangs and street violence in the underbelly of Los Angeles.
Score: 5/10Director / Writer: Attila KorosiStarring: Attila Korosi, Michael Flores, Ishaan Bahri, Daniel Hovey, Angel Hovey, Robert LaSardoGenre: crime drama, indie, experimentalRuntime: 83 minRelease: 2023Excerpt
As long as the story is solid, the pacing is well managed and everything makes sense, it’s easy to rate an independent film. Unfortunately, this film failed to deliver on most of these metrics, but… I still liked it?
Follow the Leader
l-r: Adriana Guerrero, Sara Hovey, Angel Hovey, and Daniel Hovey. Cast who are also members of Alberto Guerrero’s immediate family. Live and Die in East LA is dedocated tp Alberto in memoriam. Joining a gang seems like a lot of effort for little reward; still, many are still drawn to the allure of comraderie and illegal group activity and Live and Die in East LA is poised to act as both an homage and a deterrent. I love the renegade style of indie film and I’m happy to give a lot of grace to productions that can’t always deliver award winning performances or stellar special effects. As long as the story is solid, the pacing is well managed and everything makes sense, it’s easy to rate an independent film. Unfortunately, this film failed to deliver on most of these metrics, but… I still liked it?
Maybe it’s the potential and maybe it’s the collaboration with Homeboy Industries and GRYD (Gang Reduction & Youth Development) – two organizations looking to end gang violence in Los Angeles. Maybe it’s the authentic ex-gang members who are being so vulnerable and open with their stories, or maybe it’s the inventive animated interstitials that condemn selfishness and backstabbing through the metaphorical tale of an ambitious caterpillar (animated by the talented Mio Yamanaka)?
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“In Hell with Ivo” is a Heavenly Journey
In Hell with Evo
Bulgarian queer artist and songwriter Ivo Dimchev transforms personal and social hardship into provocative public and intimate spectacles, boldly exploring sexuality, identity, faith, and activism in a liberating celebration of queer visibility.
Score: 7.5/10Director / Writer: Kristina NikolovaStarring: Ivo DimchevGenre: documentary, queer filmRuntime: 78Release: 2025Excerpt
Ivo isn’t trying to find a place for himself, he’s creating and taking space wherever he goes. As the star of "In Hell with Ivo", Ivo takes up even more space, this time on the international stage.
“Love should be unconditional” – Ivo
The opening line in Kristina Nikolova’s new documentary is uttered by the subject himself. Bulgarian artist Ivo Dimchev smirks into the audience and says, “This is a question along the lines of To be or not to be? – Coming in the *ss or coming in the mouth?” He jokes there’s no way Nikolova will use that in the documentary, but Ivo gives the impression that what he wants, he gets?
It can be jarring to see someone who is fully themselves in a place that doesn’t fully appreciate who they are. Especially when those people are equal parts strong independence and sincere vulnerability. It can be difficult to see someone operating in their truth, especially when the community around you rejects that truth. Ivo (pronounced “EYE-voh” which he prefers because the other way makes it sound like “evil”) isn’t trying to find a place for himself, he’s creating and taking space wherever he goes. As the star of In Hell with Ivo, Ivo takes up even more space, this time on the international stage.
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