The ribs are being basted, the kegs are getting cooled, and the projectors are getting one last wipe of the lens as the SXSW Film Festival kicks off today. And while you already known the high profile movies that will unspooling, there are plenty more in the packed schedule not only jostling for attention, but that may give audiences a pleasant surprise. One movie hoping to stand out from the pack is “Holy Ghost People.”
Directed by Mitchell Altieri, the psychological thriller follows nineteen-year old Charlotte (Emma Greenwell) who enlists the help of alcoholic ex-Marine Wayne (Brendan McCarthy) to find her estranged sister who has gone missing deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Their search leads them to the Church of One Accord and the enigmatic snake-handling preacher Brother Billy (Joe Egender — who also wrote the movie), and of course, things don’t go as planned. As you’ll see below in our exclusive premiere, the film has a pretty nifty graphic poster which nicely transmits the tone of the movie, and the trailer suggests a grimier riff on “Martha Marcy Mary Marlene” with a distinct Southern flavor.
“Holy Ghost People” will have its first screening at SXSW on Sunday, March 10th at 6:30 PM at Topfer Theater. Check it all out below.