The 2022 SXSW Film Festival kicked off with a slate of films to pique the interest of many reviewers and avid film watchers. This year, I was drawn to the horror category, and here are a few movies that caught my attention.
SISSY
Baby, if you thought seeking revenge on someone who hurt you in the past would be worthwhile, Cecilia will help you realize it’s better to leave people alone.
Aisha Dee stars as main character Cecilia in the LGBTQ+ Comedy/Horror film SISSY by Directors Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes. The premise involves Cecilia, a famous social media influencer, being invited away on a bachelorette weekend in which she’s stuck in a remote cabin with her high school bully. To say she gets triggered is an understatement.
Sissy provided a lot of shock value, then added the horror appeal. The horrific and graphic details Cecilia subjects herself to are intriguing yet highly sensitive for those who find themselves squirming at the decisions made throughout the film. Cecilia’s internal turmoil is eye-popping hard to look away from for long.
And the ending is so unexpected and a great representation of how social media stars are not always what they seem. Totally recommend Sissy when it is released on the Shudder streaming service. But beware; it’s gruesome to watch. The featured cast includes Aisha Dee, Hannah Barlow, Emily De Margheriti, Daniel Monks, Yerin Ha, Lucy Barrett, Shaun Martindale, Amelia Lule, April Blasdall, and Camille Cumpston
MASTER
Writer/Director Mariama Diallo gives us an insightful concoction of horror from the Black perspective and how racism infiltrates environments, specifically within the education realm.
The synopsis entails three women striving to find their place at an elite Northeastern university as old as the country. When anonymous racist attacks target a Black freshman—who insists she is being haunted by ghosts of the school’s past—each woman must determine where the real menace lies.
Although three women began the path of acceptance at the prestigious Ancaster University, I knew from the jump one was a fraud based on her Rachel Dolezal vibes that give this film relevant substance as a modern story experience.
As a Black woman who attended a PWI, one scene in particular resonated with me and is a testament to what so many Black students face in the eyes and minds of racist professors that exist in this world. And the Black Student Union is sometimes all you have as a pathway towards redemption of your horrific experience.
“MASTER” definitely offers a lot of think pieces and provides a roundtable of discussions similar to how viewers attempt to interpret the work of Writer/Director Jordan Peele’s films. For example, the scene in which Jasmine is nonverbally humiliated by the cafeteria worker is genius and a huge warning sign.
I recommend watching the film “Master” when it premieres on Prime Video on March 18th, as Regina King and Zoe Renee give stellar performances. The featured cast includes Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, Talia Ryder, Talia Balsam, and Amber Gray
BITCH ASS
Screenwriters/Producers Bill Posley, Jonathan Colomb’s film “Bitch Ass” led us down a path set in 1999, as a gang initiation goes wrong when recruits break into the deadly game house of cinema’s first Black masked serial killer. Unfortunately, the premise of incorporating a Black version of the “Squid Games” falls short of an impactful cinematic experience.
Although I do not take Bitch Ass seriously in the horror category, it has more of a comedy appeal that is silly and lighthearted. Remember back in the day when we had Dollar Cinemas? Bitch Ass reminds me of one of those films you watch at the Dollar Movie late at night as a first or second date experience. Sometimes you wanna get away and watch a film just because, and “Bitch Ass” gives me that vibe. The title alone is comical and made me want to know more. In addition, I appreciate the film’s plot and how it thickened closer to the end.
I still recommend watching “Bitch Ass” as a fun commentary experience that will make you laugh amongst friends or break the ice during an awkward date night. The featured cast includes Tony Todd, Sheaun McKinney, Tunde Laleye, Me’Lisa Sellers, and Teon Kelly.
