SXSW 2012 Shorts Preview: Extra! Don't Forget Texas!

in

Hellion

I've already covered selected shorts from SXSW's program -- see Part One and Part Two of my preview -- but there are still two opportunities to see the Texas Shorts program, with films that are set in Texas, made in Texas, or made by Texas and Austin filmmakers.

Catch the Texas Shorts program today -- Tuesday, March 13 -- at 3:30 pm at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, or on Friday, March 16, at 5 pm at Alamo Slaughter. (Aside: If you watch anything at Slaughter, say "Hi" to Miss Hallie Hughes-Hawkins, @halliehh on Twitter, who has been very lonely for familiar faces since moving to the new location from South Lamar.)

In addition to the Texas shorts I previously reviewed, Tumbleweed! and Knife, the selections also include Hellion, made in Austin by director Kat Candler. This brilliant short shows what happens when Dad gets home to find his three demonic sons have terrorized the babysitter. As the father, Jonny Mars has a smoldering intensity that reminded me of Gary Sinise. The twist ending left me chuckling.

Also, Russell Oliver Bush directed an entirely Austin cast and crew in conjunction with the MFA Film Production program at The University of Texas to create Magpie. Phillip (Daniel Hershberger) visits his daughter Maggie (Ashley Spillers), who has just become engaged to Aaron (Paul Boukadakis). Estranged since he walked out on Maggie and her mother, Phillip finds himself exploring her house, trying to reconnect while she is away at work. What he finds unlocks the door to his guilt and leads to a surprising confrontation in this moody, even creepy drama.