[Tribeca ’23] Our favorites from Tribeca Festival

This year’s Tribeca Festival is over and there were a number of great movies. Genre films were well represented with horror, science fiction, and crime stories all being well represented. From abandoned hotels to isolated space stations, the films of Tribeca took audiences to differing settings. Here are some of our favorites.

Bad Things

It is a tricky thing to make a horror movie that takes place at an empty hotel during snowy conditions. The comparisons to The Shining are inevitable and Stanley Kubrick’s classic is a lot to live up to. Screenwriter-director Stewart Thorndike is able to surpass any expectations by crafting a script that is patient, character driven, and creepy. Bad Things is a queer horror movie that focuses on people and delivers effective scares.

I.S.S.

Putting a science-fiction thriller on a space station seems easy enough. The claustrophobic setting lends itself to suspense that pretty much writes itself. A good idea in theory does not always work in practice, however. I.S.S. succeeds by doing things a little differently. Characters are not developed in the traditional sense with the focus being put on emotions and situations. It leads to a tense story that is impossible to look away from.

LaRoy

True crime has ruled media for a while now, but crime stories in general have been a popular source of entertainment since people began exchanging tales. LaRoy is a story about a man who is mistaken for a hitman. Shenanigans ensue, wacky characters are introduced, and a private detective no one takes seriously tries to put it all together. A sweet and tragic love story ties it all together.

Suitable Flesh

This is an absolute must-see for fans of 1980s horror. The story follows a psychiatrist whose life begins to spiral out of control after meeting a strange young man. Murder, sex, and the supernatural all come together in a throwback that brings together many of the players from Re-Animator. Lots of genre films pay homage to the 80s, but end up losing their way. Suitable Flesh stays the course and will please horror fans of all ages.

You’ll Never Find Me

Australian thriller You’ll Never Find Me takes a lot of risks. The majority of the film is spent with just two characters and much of their time is spent talking. Both of them are also not being completely honest, which means there is no rooting interest. The final moments take a wild left turn that will catch anyone watching off guard. It all works thanks to some of the best performances of the year and a story that pulls you in – even if you are afraid of what you are going to learn. A fantastic watch that will stay with you long after the chilling final shot.

Tribeca Festival takes place June 7 -18. List of award winners can be found HERE