Houston, I Come in Peace
Announcing my new gig: Artistic Director for the River Oaks Theatre
Yesterday’s Houston Chronicle brought the official news that I have accepted the role of Artistic Director for the River Oaks Theatre.
Change is scary - leaving a company I’ve worked at for a third of my life did not come without hesitation. That said, the chance to be a small part of this historic movie theater’s massive legacy was an opportunity I could not say no to. And trust me, I know because I did say “no” the first time I was offered the job. The more I thought about it and considered what kind of fun I could get up to with a three-screen arthouse theater in the heart of Houston, the more I knew that this kind of opportunity would only come once in a lifetime.
And so I embark on a new chapter of my life. It will be nice working for a theater that is a ten-minute drive from my home. It’ll also be nice to curate film programming for such a beautiful location. I’ve seen the progress of the theater’s remodel unfold over the last month, and this theater is shaping up to be one of the most stunning movie palaces in Texas, if not the country.
It’s too early to share specific programming plans, but suffice it to say that if you were a fan of my programming at the various Alamo Drafthouse locations throughout Houston, you’d dig what we’re getting up to at the River Oaks Theatre. We'll be showing the best modern arthouse films, Hollywood classics, foreign cinema, weird cinema-spelunking artifacts, and some really cool guests.
I’ll share more information in the coming months, but - in the meantime - drop me a line with any requests, tips, or questions. I want the River Oaks Theatre to be the hub for movie fans in Houston and truly reflect our diverse, passionate community. That means my inbox is ALWAYS going to be open. You can reach me at rsaucedo@theriveroakstheatre.com.
See you at the movies!
I’ve started working with Debora Lancianese on the next chapter of WHERE WOLF. It’s still early in the process, but here’s a look at her sketch layouts for some new pages.
I’m thinking of doing something fun with the first WHERE WOLF in October, but in the meantime, you can request a copy of WHERE WOLF from your local library or buy a personal copy directly from the publisher, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Brazos Bookstore in Houston, Ghoulish Books in San Antonio, or Whose Books in Dallas. If you've read WHERE WOLF, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon, Goodreads, The StoryGraph, or wherever you discover new books.
ODDITY will be released in theaters this weekend from IFC Films and Shudder. This creepy AF Irish horror film is from writer/director Damian McCarthy and plays out like a cross between an Agatha Christie mystery and a James Wan spook-a-blast ghost movie. When her sister is murdered at the remote country home she shared with her husband, a doctor at a mental health institution, Darcy - a blind woman with unique gifts, decides to investigate the truth behind the murder. Helping her in the investigation is a gigantic wooden golem with a face that would give you a heart attack if you met it in a dark alley. Subdued, intelligent, and perfectly scary, ODDITY is a quiet little movie that will catch you on your toes.
CRUMB CATCHER, directed by Chris Skotchdopole, also hits theaters this weekend. The film stars Ella Rae Peck and Rigo Garay as a newly married couple whose honeymoon is crashed by a waiter who assisted them at their reception. He claims he’s there to return something the newlyweds left behind, but - in reality - he has ulterior motives. And I guarantee you won’t be able to guess those motives if you had a hundred tries. John Speredakos plays the most unlikely home invader I’ve seen in a film in years, a menace that seamlessly fluctuates between frightening, sympathetic, comedic, and obnoxious. This movie is a wild ride, and I’m very excited to see what Skotchdopole and his cast do next.
The final new release I wanted to shout out was NATIONAL ANTHEM. Written and directed by Luke Gilford, the film stars Charlie Plummer as a shy and socially awkward construction worker who finds his tribe after being adopted into the social scene at an LGBTQ ranch run by rodeo performers who make their sexual identity part of their professional identity. Part coming-of-age story, part romance, NATIONAL ANTHEM is a beautiful film about taking the first steps in figuring out your identity and how sometimes those first steps are the most painful. Besides the obvious film comparison, you don’t see a lot of movies that find an intersection at the crossroads of queer and cowboy, and NATIONAL ANTHEM manages to skirt any comparisons to BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN by being a film that’s about optimism instead of tragedy. It’s the feel-good gay cowboy movie of the summer, y’all.
Finally, while firmly in my new position at the River Oaks Theatre, I’m still hosting Graveyard Shift and Film Club at the Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra through the end of August.
Join me tonight for a screening of HUMANISTIC VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON, a very charming French-Canadian bloodsucking rom-com about a reluctant vampire who meets a reluctant alive person. Can Sasha figure out a way to be a creature of the night without actually hurting people? Can Paul find a way to end the seamlessly inescapable pain and suffering that comes with being a teenager? It’s the meet-cute film about depression you never realized you needed in your life! Seriously, this movie is very fun and very sweet and I’m glad I can help bring it to Houston audiences. There are only two tickets left at the moment, so buy them here!
On Friday, I’m hosting VOYAGE OF THE ROCK ALIENS, an absolutely wild 1984 sci-fi rock musical comedy from people who clearly really wanted to ape the success of GREASE but also seemingly couldn’t get their nose out of the giant pile of cocaine on their desk. Pia Zidora and Craig Sheffer star in the film, about a small town that plays host to a group of star-surfing aliens in search of pure rock and roll. It’s weird, it’s loud, and it features 97 minutes of misguided choices set to a rockin’ soundtrack. Buy tickets here!
Congrats on the new gig! Super excited for you!