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The 12th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival ran from May 2 to the 8th and concluded on Thursday after six days of dozens of films. This years festival featured movies from around the world and a variety of genres. Several filmmakers and actors were on hand to represent their films.
The opening night movie was The Baltimorons. It featured a special appearance and Q&A
with filmmaker Jay Duplass, and actors Michael Strassner & Liz Larsen. The closing night film was A Little Prayer, with a special appearance and Q&A with filmmaker Angus MacLachlan & star Jane Levy.
Other notable guests at the festival were Dylan O’Brien, James Sweeney, Matthew Shear, and Eva Victor, among several other. It was a very good guest list. I tried attending as much as I could and saw some good ones. Here are some of my personal favorites.
LURKER:
This one I was interested in seeing and it lived up to my expectations. A thriller about a guy who gets close to a music star and a dangerous obsession is born. Really good performance from Theodore Pellerin, who blurs the lines of fandom and obsession. One of my favorite rising actors Archie Madekwe plays the budding music star Oliver. Every new role is see Madekwe in, he just keeps getting better and better. This film had me on-edge and wondering where the movie was heading.
Very good performances and excellent build of tension by first time filmmaker Alex Russell. The movie leaves you feeling uneasy and sticks with you. I found it to be an interesting commentary on fame and fandom, as well as a look into the inner circles of famous people. Was my favorite film of the festival.
BEST WISHES TO ALL:
J-Horror is making a return and ‘Best Wishes To All’ is a nice modern throwback to the early 2000’s Japanese horrors. Popularized by successful hits like ‘The Grudge’. The film follows a young nursing student who travels from Tokyo to the village town she grew up in to visit her grandparents. She soon discovers that there is something eerie and bizarre happening with her grandparents and the locals. Her discoveries lead her to question her moral senses and sanity.
The film is in Japanese with English subtitles. I found the buildup to be chilling and the suspense is well done. You’re never quite sure where the plot is heading and it kept me intrigued. The acting was good and the film did live up to the J-Horror lore. I’d recommend it.
TWINLESS:
This was a good buddy comedy with some real and meaningful themes. Dylan O’Brien and writer/director James Sweeney have excellent on-screen chemistry. I found the characters to be likeable and the dialogue was well-written.
Sweeney blended the comedic with the heartfelt moments nicely. While the movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of theme and concepts, it does take some less predictable turns that I found refreshing.
A LITTLE PRAYER:
This was the closing movie of the festival and it was a fitting one. Angus MacLachlan’s drama about a North Carolina family and a family matriarch protecting the family from crumbling. David Strathairn gives a masterful performance. He commands every scene and Jane Levy also does tremendous work alongside him.
‘A Little Prayer’ is a slow moving drama but a poignant one that deals with complex family dynamics. I really appreciated the characters and their individual uniqueness and choices they made. Is a kindred spirit closer than family blood ties?
The festival was a success in my estimation. It was heavy on dramas and that seemed to be more of the theme this year. Some really good stuff to look out for when these films get eventually released. The 2025 Chicago Critics Film Festival is officially in the books!
For more information on the CCFF visit: https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com
