There’s really nothing like going to a film festival in your home state. As a resident of Texas myself, I could not be more excited to travel to Austin this March to cover SXSW 2026 for The Rolling Tape. This festival has always meant a lot to me, since some of the most impactful films in my life have had their world premieres here. As my second-ever on-the-ground festival coverage, I am excited to explore some new and ambitious horror and action titles coming soon!
The SXSW Film Festival will take place in Austin, Texas, from March 12 to 18.
Here are the films I’m most excited to see at this year’s festival:
They Will Kill You, dir. Kirill Sokolov
Ever since my initial exposure to her performance as Domino in Deadpool 2 (2018), I’ve been dying to see Zazie Beetz take on her own action film. They Will Kill You is exactly what I’ve been looking for, a Ready or Not (2019) style single-location female-led action horror. I hope They Will Kill You explores the best parts of the films it clearly takes inspiration from, while also paving its own path and energy. I love seeing Beetz holding her own in an original action title produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, and I’m delighted to experience what seems to be a wild, fun, and bloody ride.
Hokum, dir. Damian McCarthy
Damian McCarthy shook the table with his eerie folk horror film Oddity (2024), which also premiered at SXSW. Now, as mentioned in my article on upcoming horror titles in 2026, McCarthy’s new film Hokum continues his folk horror interests while upping the ante on haunting imagery. The third shot in the teaser alone still makes me jump, and I expect at least one sleepless night after my initial viewing of this film.
Pretty Lethal, dir. Vicky Jewson
If I had a dollar for every ballerina-themed action movie I’ve seen, I’d have two very precious dollars. Action/thriller films with a diverse female ensemble are not easy to come by these days, but luckily, Vicky Jewson’s Pretty Lethal is here to fill that void. With a cast that includes dancer Maddie Ziegler, actresses like Iris Apatow, Avantika, and the iconic Uma Thurman, the film appears to take the idea of being a ballerina to vicious places. A group of young women highlighting the intensity a profession such as ballet requires through action is more than enough to get me seated. Pretty Lethal looks to be just what the action genre needs.
The Shitheads, dir. Macon Blair
Not much is known about this film beyond the cast and the basic premise. A road trip movie starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Dave Franco, and Mason Thames appears simple and potentially uninteresting to some; however, Macon Blair’s creative prowess proves it will be anything but. His bonkers retelling of the Troma classic The Toxic Avenger (2023) put him on my radar very quickly and had me itching for what he would tackle next. While this premise seems paper-thin, I am excited to see the insane swings it will inevitably take in terms of style and imagery.
Courtesy of Nadia Arain
Feature Image Credit to NEON | still from ‘They Will Kill You’