Phoenix Film Festival 2025
Top 7 Films to See
Seven. My favorite number and a fantastic thriller.
It’s also the number of films I’ve chosen to highlight for
the 25th anniversary of the Phoenix Film Festival.
There are some big-name films with some big name actors, directors
and writers such as THE FRIEND, HOLLAND, PLATOON, and ON SWIFT HORSES lined up
this year. All fantastic choices to watch at the festival.
However, I’m going to focus on the lesser knowns as well as
the darker, intriguing features as those almost always end up topping my annual
film lists over the big names.
So, if you’re into genre films and want to support the
festival and some of the festival program directors, add these seven films to
your ticket list.
FREAKY TALES
One name: Pedro Pascal. That’s all you need, right? Well, if not, FREAKY TALES has a star-studded cast that should satisfy just about any filmgoer in this wild pulp film set in the 80’s.
Friday, March 28 at 8:10 p.m.
Directed by: Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack
Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks
Synopsis: Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of
colorful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks,
neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of
showdowns and battles. Executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, and
featuring an all-star ensemble including Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis,
Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom
Hanks, this pulpy blend of explosive action, edgy humor, gory kills, and sly
twists and turns makes for one wild ride.
MESMERIZED
Dark, tragic sci-fi films really get under my skin and leave a long, lasting impression. COYOTE was one of those films at 2023’s Phoenix Film Festival and MESMERIZED might just join it based on its synopsis.
Friday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 4 at 11:10 a.m.
Sunday, April 6 at 11:10 a.m.
Directed by: October
Cast: Katie Leclerc, Ari Boyland, Elyse Levesque, Miracle Laurie
Synopsis: A young woman searches for her lost childhood sister that only she
can remember. After their parents’ death, Kate Hawthorne returns with her
brother Alan to the mountain where they spent their childhood summers seeking
to unravel the mystery of her sister’s disappearance – and whether Alan is
behind it.
SISTER MIDNIGHT
This film sounds like my personal hell so I’m already ready to root for the main character Uma and support director Karan Kandhari’s vision.
Wednesday, April 2 at 6:45 p.m.
Friday, April 4 at 9:25 p.m.
Directed by: Karan Kandhari
Cast: Radhika Apte, Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam, Smita Tambe, Subhash Chandra,
Navya Sawant
Synopsis: Rebellious small-town misfit Uma arrives in Mumbai to find herself
totally unsuited to life as a housewife. At odds with her prying neighbors and
under the constant oppressive noise and heat of the city, she decides to break
free from the shackles of domesticity and follow her own path in this bold,
unpredictable, and darkly funny debut.
JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE (Subtitled)
How many of you have been burned by Jane Austen? Yes, me too. There may be glimpses of Darcy in my partner but damn you Jane for setting us up for failure. JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE may help those feeling a bit bitter at real life versus Austen’s world.
Thursday, April 3 at 7:00pm
Directed by: Laura Piani
Cast: Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson
Synopsis: Agathe is a hopelessly clumsy yet charming young woman who works in
the legendary Shakespeare & Co. bookshop in Paris, while she dreams of
being a successful writer, and of experiencing love akin to a Jane Austen
novel, she finds herself desperately single and plagued by writer's block. When
Agathe’s best friend gets her invited to the Jane Austen Writers' Residency in
England, she finally has her Jane Austen moment…and is caught in a very unexpected
romantic triangle. Agathe must let go of her insecurities to decide what she
really wants for herself, and to achieve her romantic and professional dreams.
SÉANCE
SÉANCE’s one sentence synopsis could not be more chilling. I’ll be drinking a dark red wine with my popcorn at this feature.
Friday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5 at 3:45 p.m.
Sunday, April 6 at 1:55 p.m.
Directed by: Vivian Kerr
Cast: Scottie Thompson, Jilon VanOver, Connor Paolo, Vivian Kerr
Synopsis: In 1892 California, a female novelist and her second husband are
forced to take refuge from a storm at the home of her first husband and his
unstable wife, who claims to be haunted by their dead child.
DEAD LOVER
Campy, weird and for those who love midnight features, DEAD LOVER takes the FRANKENSTEIN story and turns it on its head. DEAD LOVER made its premiere at Sundance Film Festival and is ready to attract more fans from the Phoenix area.
Friday, April 4 at 8:35 p.m.
Sunday, April 6 at 5:25 p.m.
Directed by: Grace Glowicki
Cast: Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie, Leah Doz, Lowen Morrow
Synopsis: A lonely gravedigger who stinks of corpses finally meets her dream
man, but their whirlwind affair is cut short when he tragically drowns at sea.
Grief-stricken, she goes to morbid lengths to resurrect him through madcap
scientific experiments, resulting in grave consequences and unlikely love.
The PFF Prickly Picture Show
This is a special MST3K-style screening of JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER and my personal highlight of the festival. Filmgoers are in great hands with Danny and Brandon. Everyone pack the theater so this isn’t a one-time event!
Saturday, April 5 at 7:25 p.m.
Some movies are good, and some movies are so bad they're
great. Join International Horror and Sci-Fi Program Directors Danny Marianino
and Brandon Kinchen as they host (and provide hilarious commentary) for a very
special screening of JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER (1966).
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