TheSXSW Film & TV Festivalhas grown beyond music, becoming a home to a plethora of movie and episodic premieres — be they upcoming studio releases or indie films that have yet to receive distribution. TheScreen Rantteam was on the ground in Austin, Texas, attending movie screenings and interviewing talent in our media suite. This year’s festival had a diverse lineup that ranged from chilling thrillers to immensely entertaining horror comedies. There was a bit of something for everyone and audiences were primed to experience it all in a comfortably warm environment.
With so many movies seen, we managed to narrow down our favorites from the festival and ones you should have on your movie-watching radar this year. Some of the films on the list already have release dates while some others don’t, but whether the latter come out later in 2025 or in early 2026, none of these movies (which are listed in no particular order) are to be missed.
10We Bury The Dead
The zombie genre remains one of the most explored in all forms of fiction, and while some filmmakers struggle to find new angles on it, Zak Hilditch’sWe Bury the Deadfinds a nice middle ground between familiarity and originality. Set in Tasmania ravaged by a failed military experiment that killed 500,000 people, the movie revolves around Daisy Ridley as a desperate woman who becomes part of the body retrieval unit tasked with cleaning up the dead bodies, with her goal to find her missing husband, only for the bodies to start waking up.
…I went into this with the expectation it would be far more of a drama than its plot relayed, and was delighted by how chilling it was…
Knowing Ridley’s post-Star Warsprojects have been subversive genre blenders, I went into this with the expectation it would be far more of a drama than its plot relayed, and was delighted by how chilling it was, particularly the sound design of the zombies themselves, which was some of the most haunting the genre’s ever done. –Grant Hermanns
9Hallow Road
Matthew Rhys and Rosamund Pike’s new thriller absolutely floored me. Premiering as part of SXSW’s Midnighter section, I was tired when I sat down for the film’s premiere, but from the opening moments of director Babak Anvari’s film, I was pulled in.
Hallow Roadfollows a mother and father who receive a late-night call from their daughter, who is at the scene of an accident she caused. Most of the film takes place inside the family’s car as Rhys and Pike’s characters race to the scene of the accident before anyone else can get there.
While asking questions about the lengths parents will go to save their children and the level of responsibility we carry with us when involved in an accident,Hallow Roadmanages to find a heart-wrenching emotional core. But, it’s Anvari’s inclinations toward horror that really elevate the film, makingHallow Roadas horrifying and ominous as a 2:00am car ride into the heart of darkness. –Graeme Guttmann
8Drop
Drop
Drop follows widowed mother Violet on her first date in years at an upscale restaurant. Initially charmed by her date Henry, Violet’s evening takes an unsettling turn as she becomes increasingly disturbed by a series of anonymous messages sent to her phone, leading to escalating tension and suspense.
If you’re looking for your next gripping thriller, look no further thanDrop. Directed by Christopher Landon from a screenplay by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach,Dropescalates our first-date jitters by putting Violet (Meghann Fahy) in a dangerous life-or-death situation. The film’s quick pace and ever-intriguing script make for an endlessly entertaining rollercoaster ride. Fahy is excellent in the leading role, embodying the fear and on-edge feeling that permeate the film.
Dropexpertly holds our attention while providing plot twists and turns that maintain the film’s excitement from beginning to end.
Brandon Sklenar plays Henry as charming yet grounded opposite Fahy’s stressed-out character. Though we don’t know at first that he’s who he says he is,Dropexpertly holds our attention while providing plot twists and turns that maintain the film’s excitement from beginning to end. I mentioned in myDropreviewthat I couldn’t wait to see the film again, and it remains true. Sure, our suspension of disbelief is stretched a bit thin, but the film more than makes up for it by being fun and intoxicatingly addictive to watch. –Mae Abdulbaki
7Idiotka
At first glance,Idiotkamay sound like it has the makings of a frivolous fashionista story, but it quickly reveals hidden layers of colorful fabrics beneath. Think of it as a more heartwarmingThe Devil Wears Prada, only its commentary is aimed at the exploitation of the reality TV industry through the lens of fashion.
Anna Baryshnikov is the perfect ingenue to lead the piece as Margarita, whose doe-eyed demeanor belies her grit and gumption. She and Camila Mendes (playing her mentor Nicol) have excellent chemistry that carries the film through some of its rough patches. The meat of the story is Margarita’s family dynamics, but the cameos from It girls like Julia Fox and Gabriette certainly make excellent garnishes to a delicious meal. —Tatiana Hullender
6Friendship
Friendship
Friendship, released in 2024, follows suburban dad Craig Waterman as he encounters his enigmatic neighbor Austin Carmichael. Their connection over urban exploration and shared interests takes a turn when Craig’s obsessive nature threatens the budding camaraderie.
Since becoming a viral figure with Netflix’sI Think You Should Leave, Tim Robinson has become the modern king of cringe comedy, and this is on full display in Andrew DeYoung’sFriendship. Starring Robinson as a painfully lonely man who finds the chance to become friends with someone when a new neighbor moves in, only for things to evolve into something unsettling.
Without having properly dived into I Think You Should Leave, the film marked my first major exposure to Robinson’s specific brand of cringe comedy, and proved to be a welcome one, as I found myself laughing as much as I was uncomfortable by his actions, while Paul Rudd and the rest of the cast are just as committed. –Grant Hermanns
5The Surrender
The Surrenderis a single-location two-hander starring Kate Burton and Colby Minifie as a mother-daughter caught up in a disturbing ritual after the family patriarch dies. Writer-director Julia Max quickly proves that she knows how to set-up a good scare, using sound and environment to great effect.
When things really fly off the handle, though,The Surrenderbecomes a truly terrifying odyssey and something much darker than I ever expected. There’s ghostly apparitions, gore, and two stellar performances from Minifie and Burton, just about everything you’d want for a solidly scary horror thriller. –Graeme Guttmann
4Death Of A Unicorn
Death of a Unicorn
Death of a Unicorn: Released in 2025, this fantasy drama follows a father and daughter who accidentally kill a unicorn on their way to a weekend retreat. Their discovery leads to a series of events involving the father’s billionaire boss, who aims to exploit the unicorn’s extraordinary healing abilities.
Death of a Unicorncan be silly and over-the-top, but it also doesn’t lose its groundedness. Written and directed by Alex Scharfman, the film sees a father and daughter — Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, respectively — trying to stop a wealthy family from exploiting a unicorn after Rudd’s character hits it on the drive to his boss’ (Richard E. Grant) retreat.
The film is cheeky in its humor and, though it doesn’t say anything particularly new in terms of its themes, wildly entertaining from start to finish. The ensemble cast, which includes a stellar and unhinged turn from Will Poulter, is spectacular and it’s clear they’re having a great time. The premise itself is different andDeath of a Unicornis so much fun, in part, because it’s also a bit weird. This is the kind of film that’s best seen with a good crowd. –Mae Abdulbaki
This year’s Sundance Film Festival proved to be a real treat, though with how many movies debuted there, some found themselves slip by me, andDead Loveris one I regret not having seen sooner. Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie’s wild take on Mary Shelley’sFrankensteinrevolves around a lonely gravedigger who, after meeting her dream man, is heartbroken when he drowns at sea, though turns to madcap experiments in the hopes of reviving him using the only part left of him, his severed finger.
While there certainly have been a variety of Frankenstein-inspired stories, this is undeniably one of the most original yet, and combined with committed performances from Glowicki, Petrie, Leah Doz and Lowen Morrow, as well as a colorfully dazzling visual palette harking back to the likes ofMonty Pythonclassics andThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, this is sure to become a cult classic. —Grant Hermanns
2The Accountant 2
The Accountanttook itself a bit seriously, with Ben Affleck’s action-thriller following an autistic bean counter tasked with finding corruption and getting caught up in a larger conspiracy.The Accountant 2sheds this self-seriousness for something altogether different, bringing on Jon Benrthal’s Brax in a larger role, leading to an idiosyncratic buddy comedy as Affleck’s Chris teams up with his brother Brax to solve a murder.
There’s line dancing, speed dating, brotherly bonding, and kickass action scenes.
The mechanics of the story don’t matter much here - instead, it’s the sheer absurdity of what takes place. There’s line dancing, speed dating, brotherly bonding, and kickass action scenes. There’s also a surprisingly emotional core and though not everything comes together cohesively in the end, it almost doesn’t matter. –Graeme Guttmann
1Summer of 69
It may not be a Millennial’s place to claim the kids are crying out for a new coming-of-age story, butSummer of 69proves plenty of us adults haven’t grown up yet either. Jillian Bell’s directorial debut is infused with her unique charm and sense of humor, dovetailing high schooler Abby’s (Sam Morelos) romantic plight with stripper Santa Monica’s (Chloe Fineman) quarter-life crisis.
Odyssey Review: A Punishing, Ultraviolent Slow-Burn Thriller Delivers A Grimy Real Estate World
Odyssey is a grimy and unsettling thriller that goes to some truly ugly places without ever letting up, all grounded by a stellar lead performance.
The result is a hilarious and highly effective exploration of friendship and personal responsibility, but one that never forgets to put the laughter before the medicine. It also features excellent support work from members of the comedy community, ranging from Paula Pell to Charlie Day, who make memorable characters pop in just a few short scenes. –Tatiana Hullender
