by Ryan Silberstein, Managing Editor, Red Herring

The Chicago Film Critics Association presents an annual curated film festival that runs from May 3-9 at the Music Box Theatre. With over 20 feature films and two shorts programs, there is a nice variety to choose from. The festival runs weekend days and then afternoon/evenings during the week, so it is more manageable than a lot of other bigger festivals from a time perspective. This is my first year going, so here are some of the films I am excited to check out during the festival.

Cuckoo (dir. Tilman Singer)

Tilman Singer’s previous film Luz was a seriously impressive small budget debut back in 2018, and I have been eagerly anticipating the writer-director’s next project ever since. Cuckoo is that follow up and looks impressive. Hunter Schafer is a great choice of lead (she was one of the best parts of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and seeing Dan Stevens in full creepazoid mode reinforces Singer’s love of ‘80s European horror. Based on the trailer, I have no idea where this film is going, but I cannot wait to find out.

The Dead Don’t Hurt (dir. Viggo Mortensen)

Regular MovieJawn listeners will know I love westerns, and I am very excited to see this revisionist entry in the genre. This is Mortensen’s second feature, and he follows a long tradition of actors turned directors making westerns. The focus on Vicky Krieps’ character in the trailer suggests this will combine a relationship drama examining gender roles within the western, also part of the genre’s revisionist traditions.

The Last Stop in Yuma County (dir. Francis Galluppi)

Just based on the trailer, it would be easy to describe this as “if the Coens had written the diner scenes in Pulp Fiction,” and honestly, that would be a fun time! Add in Jim Cummings, a gifted comedic performer, Jocelin Donahue, who shined in Ti West’s The House of the Devil, and I’m all in!

Dandelion (dir. Nicole Riegel) 

KiKi Layne is a mesmerizing performer, and seeing her in the lead role of a guitarist trying to find her voice in spaces typically populated by white men seems to be a fascinating exercise in exploring modern America through her character’s eyes. The film promises to dig into creativity with authenticity and spirit, and I am eager to follow the title character’s journey.

National Anthem (dir. Luke Gilford)

A modern western, National Anthem sees young queer rodeo performers searching for their version of the American Dream. I love seeing new takes on the western from different perspectives, and I hope the genre continues to broaden with new perspectives and new voices, making it more reflective of America as a whole.