Adventures in Movies: SXSW 2024 (“Dickweed” and “Dead Mail”)
We cover two very different films that had audiences buzzing out of SXSW 2024, but did “Dickweed” and “Dead Mail” deliver the goods?
Dickweed | SXSW 2024
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 | SXSW 2024
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!
ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
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.
Episode 373: ‘Mockbuster’ (2026)
We have spent years talking about how important The Blair Witch Project is. We discuss the pros and cons of the latest reimagining of the iconic found footage classic. And we are definitely interested. Plus, the latest internet horror fad that Hollywood wants to adapt into a movie. And while it does seem a little silly to us, they do have a strong director attached to it.
The Asylum has been putting out grade-A quality B movies for a long time. Sharknado may be their most well-known, but their specialty are mockbusters like Tomb Invader and Top Gunner. We could not wait to take a look at their inner workings.
Mockbuster does much more than that. Sure, there is plenty of footage from The Asylum library. And yes, all of it is amazing. The interviews with the people at the top of the company are also great. They know the score and are funny, entertaining, and informative.
But it is the documentary’s subject that is the beating heart of the film. Anthony Frith is one of the most charming people we have ever seen and we enjoyed watching his journey. Mockbuster ended up being an unexpected feel-good watch thanks to Frith and all of the incredibly supportive people featured.
On top of all that, we get to see how a movie from The Asylum gets 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
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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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