We cover two very different films that had audiences buzzing out of SXSW 2024, but did “Dickweed” and “Dead Mail” deliver the goods?
We recently had the pleasure of attending SXSW, and this week we couple a cover of oddities out of the fest. These two really stood out to us, but did they stand out for the right reasons?
True crime documentaries are everywhere, which would be fine if they were not all so cookie-cutter. The ones that have stood out recently are not the ones with the most gruesome or obscure cases. The docs that tackle the strange and offbeat cases tend to be the most interesting.
Dickweed spoke to us for these exact reasons. Here’s the official synopsis of the true crime documentary, directed by Jonathan Ignatius Green:
Two people got kidnapped. One man lost his dick. No one got any money. This heist gone horribly wrong led one Newport Beach detective on an international manhunt for the most twisted criminal he’d ever hunted.
Kidnapping, prison breaks, torture, and an amputated penis are all part of its twisted tale. The opening is fantastic and does a great job of drawing in its audience.
So, where did it go wrong? Was it the on-the-nose title, which may be the laziest we have ever come across? Or was how it was able to take an exciting story and completely suck any fun out of it? Maybe it is the strange decision to ignore the most interesting parts of the story and spend way too much time talking to one of the most insufferable interview subjects ever.
Whatever the case, Dickweed is incredibly disappointing.
Dead Mail is weird. (What may be weirder is that one of us was actually familiar with one of the strangest parts of the film.)
The plot sounds straightforward enough. A dead-letter investigator is presented with a bloody note requesting help. His investigation leads to a dangerous situation that may be too much for him to handle.
In that simple premise, writers and directors Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy construct a tale of friendship, betrayal, and synthesizers that will keep anyone watching on their toes. From the unusual structure of the plot to its emphasis on music, we try to break it all down.
Is Dead Mail too much, or can it find the right mix of avant-garde filmmaking and sheer horror? Tune in to find out!
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
Blade Runner is one of the most revered science fiction films of all time. It has spawned video games, books, a sequel, and an upcoming Prime series. People LOVE the movie. We talk about a major casting decision for the show and how the original movie is overrated.
The Strangers is one of the best home invasion movies of all time. Surprisingly, it did not lead to a larger franchise. As a matter of fact, there will be more installments this year than there have been in the previous decade and a half. That includes a potential four and half hour long cut of all three movies that will be coming out this year. Some horror is all about making audiences feel uncomfortable, but that may be a little too much.
Haunted house movies is one of the most popular sub-genres in horror and will will never go away. People love to hear stories about homes with violent pasts. This sub-genre has gone beyond just scaring people as more comedy horror movies may be about haunted houses than any other subject.
For Sale has a lot going for it. Its use of effects proves there is more that the practical vs CGI argument does not always matter. Essentially, it does more with less. It also has two great leads that have tremendous chemistry. There is an overall charm to the entire film.
Regrettably, it does not manage to close the deal. There are some genuinely funny moments and some really creepy ones, but the whole thing never settles on a tone. For Sale also never recovers from a major decision leading into the third act. Things grind to a halt leading to an ending that is more confusing than anything else.
As we head into the home stretch of Bruceploitation Month, we finally get to Dragon Lee. A few shows back, Blake talked about how much he was looking forward to covering the actor. Kung Fu Fever is a revelation and a disappointment. Dragon Lee is even more awesome than either of us could have imagined, but the print is of very poor quality.
Blake also presents a theory that is as zany as any of the films we have covered. It may be too far out there for some listeners to accept, but after watching Kung Fu Fever, some listeners may not think it is so ridiculous. One thing everyone will agree on; this is one of the most tasteless Bruceploitation movies ever made.
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
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