Sara Paxton

The new film Cheap Thrills is the kind of horror film that’s so effective, you may only want to see it once. Consider that a compliment of the highest order, as this low-budget indie film, playing at Fantastic Fest this weekend, aspires to be a wholly nasty piece of work and reaches that plateau early and often. Anchored by an appropriately sweaty and desperate Pat Healy, Cheap Thrills is gruesome and visceral, while always being slightly tethered to matters of the real world.

Love & Air Sex Written by Bryan Poyser, David DeGrow Shotwell, and Steven Walters Directed by Bryan Poyser USA, 2013 Watching the new independent romantic dramedy Love & Air Sex, it’s easy to drift a bit to the memorable sight gag from an early-season episode of The Simpsons. In that story, the raging-id child Bart …

Willow Creek Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait USA, 2013 While trying to document and find evidence of the mythical Bigfoot, believer Jim (Bryce Johnson) and his skeptical girlfriend Kelly (Alexie Gilmore) arrive at Willow Creek, near where the famous Patterson-Gimlin film was originally shot. Despite the many warnings from locals to stay away, the …