From co-creators and executive producers Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, “Swarm” follows Dre (Dominique Fishback), an obsessed fan of the world’s biggest pop star who sets off on an unexpected cross-country journey. The series premiered its first two episodes at the SXSW 2023 Film Festival, which I was fortunate enough to attend and thoroughly enjoyed.

But is “Swarm” scary?

If you’re reading this “Swarm” review, it’s probably because you hate all things horror, and you’re a scaredy cat … just like me. And that’s cool … I get it! So the real question of the day is: “Is “Swarm” scary? Like ACTUALLY scary? Or can my Black ass actually sit through this thang without shitting bricks? Every time a Black creator releases a horror or thriller … I cringe because I know I need to watch it (for the culture — and to review), but I hate them. And not because I just “hate” them, but because I’m a big ass scaredy cat!

What I really hate is:

• the sight of blood
• seeing or hearing bones breaking
• being startled (aka jumping up outta my seat like I forgot the damn stove on)
• extreme violence (think repeatedly stabbing someone as if they ain’t already dead)
• racial incidents that’s sure to trigger any Black person
• watching kids get hurt

And probably a ton of other shit!

But since it’s my duty to you, the culture (and myself) to review Black films all year round, I’m trying to make peace with the fact that this includes horror and thriller!

So Here’s A Quick Review Of “Swarm” For Scaredy Cats

Is “Swarm” Scary?

After finishing “Swarm” on Prime Video, I realized that while it’s a whole f*cking lot, it’s actually not scary at all! And yes, I too think that’s weird. But it’s not meant to be a horror story. It’s actually a psychological thriller, about real life events (and internet rumors), so I think the interesting and intriguing outweighs the scare factor in this one.

But if you don’t like horror there are a few things to watch out for.

What actually bothered me:

Don’t laugh when I say this, but nothing actually bothered me while watching this. I don’t know if that’s because it’s extremely fascinating to watch Dominique Fishback switch back and forth from a sweet (but weird), lovable child to a psychotic serial killer.

Or if it’s because the serial killer in this series is a Black girl, and feels less threatening than say — a white adult male, like so many other series are based on, including my fave Netflix serial killer series “You“. However — the elements of horror that I hate are present, but they just don’t hit hard enough to actually scare me into skipping them. And I like it that way.

The same way we think Jordan Peele films are more intriguing than scary, is exactly how many will react to “Swarm”.

What you need to know before watching “Swarm” if you absolutely hate horror:

If you have melissophobia, or apiphobia …

Aka the fear of bees, beware! While we rarely ever see them, we do hear the bees often.

And yes, it’s a nod to the “Beyhive” as you’ll see while watching, so hopefully they’ll make you think of Beyoncé instead of actual bees?

Other things to watch out for:

• the sight of blood (and lots of it) — there’s even a scene with Dre mopping up blood like you’ll see in the trailer, or in my TikTok recap video of the SXSW x Swarm Mini Mart event
• being startled — you’ll know what’s coming before it happens, so that takes most of the scare out of these scenes, but there’s a bit of suspense that could scare you
• there’s a cop scene — where Dre gets stopped, and yes the cop is white and stalker-ish, so that could trigger some trauma if you’ve got any (from your own experience or even just the news)
• the kills are violent, and repetitive (meaning she stabs/hits again and again) but you can fast forward a tad if it bothers you (it didn’t feel intense as most kill scenes do so it didn’t bother me)
• suicide is mentioned, but we don’t see the act being committed
• if white girl cults make you uneasy, then you’ve been warned
• while the cop scene doesn’t have any shooting involved, there is a shotgun pointed and shot at Dre to harm her (thankfully not from anyone white)

Do I recommend watching “Swarm” even if you hate horror?

Abso-f*cking-lutely!

Like I said, it’s insane, but it’s only 7 short episodes. (They’re about 30 mins long each.) So it’s easy to binge over the weekend, and then watch a few Abbott Elementary episodes right after, if that’s what you’ll need to sleep better at night. But I didn’t need to watch anything funny afterwards to calm down.

The series really isn’t that deep.

It’s just cute commentary on how stan fans take shit way too damn far, and how the stan culture can hurt others. It’s also cool to see a Black woman take up space in a realm we don’t often see them in. And Dominque’s an incredible actress, so the series is worth watching for just her alone!

Plus there’s that sex scene that everyone keeps talking about? So I guess you could also watch it for that, although it’s so much more than a sex scene.

Now Here’s A Few Tips To Get Through “Swarm” If You Plan On Watching It (And You Hate Horror)

1. Turn yo muhfudging sound down bruh! Horror thrives on sound!
2. Keep the lights on. Why in the world would you watch this in the dark? Candles, something!
3. Watch this at home! That way you can control your surroundings.
4. Fast forward if needed. You don’t need to watch how everyone is killed to follow the story.
5. Watch with a friend. Thrillers and horror stories are easier to stomach, when you’re not watching alone.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you’re heading to Austin, Texas for the South by South West (SXSW) 2023 Film Festival, there’s a ton of dope films and tv shows to see, and a few cool film + tv related events to attend. But with so much happening, a lot of the awesome stuff gets lost in the sauce … or in this case in all of the emails I’ve received over the last few weeks heading up to the event. And if you’re *ahem* of color … dare I say BIPOC … ew, never mind, that was awful — but if you are, then I know you’re probably in search of creatives of color you can support (for the culture).

So here’s a list of the coolest films, tv shows, and events for everyone of color to watch and do while at the SXSW 2023 Film Festival. And in the words of our Canadian friend, you can thank me now.

SXSW 2023 Film Festival: Everything You Should See And Do If You’re Looking To Support Creatives Of Color

What To Watch At SXSW 2023

Swarm

This new Prime Video series about an obsessed, Houston-based fan who goes to increasingly violent lengths for her fave R&B singer, stars Dominique Fishback and Chloe Bailey, and is one of my most anticipated premieres of the fest.

Story Ave

Desperate to join “Outside The Lines”, a graffiti gang, South Bronx native Kadir Grayson, attempts to rob Luis, an older Puerto Rican MTA conductor on the Story Ave subway platform. But when Luis offers him the cash he needs – for the first time in his life, Kadir entertains the possibility of his artistic talent being a conduit to a better life. The film stars Asante Blackk and Luis Guzmán, and as a Native New Yorker who also happens to love graffiti, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.

Flamin’ Hot

Directed by Eva Longoria, “Flamin’ Hot” is the story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global phenomenon.

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster

Vicaria is a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that can be cured. After the brutal and sudden murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to bring him back to life. Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” thematically challenges our ideas of life and death. And I’m totally here for a “Black Frankenstein”.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton) and Justice Smith (Pokémon Detective Pikachu) star in this story of a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers who undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, and I can’t wait to see them both on screen again!

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

Love To Love You, Donna Summer

“Love to Love You, Donna Summer” captures a richly complex picture of the woman, the artist, the wife, and mother whose iconic voice changed music forever. An archive of exclusive, previously unseen film, home video, photographs, artwork, personal audio, and other recordings form the film’s vibrant exploration of the life and career of one of the most extraordinary performers ever to shake a room to its timbers.

I’m A Virgo

Directed by Boots Riley, and featuring Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray Olivia Washington, and Mike Epps — “I’m a Virgo” is a fantastical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie, a 13-foot tall young Black man in Oakland, California. The series is a mythic examination of what happens when the oppressed finally rise up – and asks why we are so often asked to identify with the oppressors in our stories, rather than the true heroes we often overlook.

If You Were the Last

Starring our Captain America … I mean, Anthony Mackie — “If You Were The Last” tells us the story of Adam and Jane, who are three years into a NASA mission that has gone very wrong. One day, Adam poses that maybe they should sleep together, thus beginning a friendly, flirty debate about whether they’re better off spending their remaining days as friends or something more.

Bottoms

“Bottoms” follows two unpopular girls in their senior year who start a fight club to try to impress and hook up with cheerleaders and features Ayo Edebiri (from Hulu’s “The Bear”).

The Young Wife

Directed by Tayarisha Poe, who gave us “Selah And The Spades” and starring Kiersey Clemons, Leon Bridges, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Lovie Simone — “The Young Wife” is the story of a young woman grappling with the meaning of love in the face of an uncertain world. It’s a sunny day panic attack and a wholly new take on the wedding film following her over the course of her “non-wedding” day.

Mustache

It’s the mid-90’s in Northern California and 13-year-old Pakistani-American Ilyas is facing a major crisis — public school. Ilyas’ fears about joining public school are made worse by insecurities due to his inescapable, prepubescent mustache. Ilyas hatches a hilarious plan to return to his old school — but on the way learns, he must also accept himself. The film features Rizwan Manji and Hasan Minhaj.

Demascus

We meet Demascus in a moment of great inner strife. He’s just turned 33 and he’s suffering from arrested grief after the death of his mother. His career, his love life (or lack thereof), his identity is all up for debate. While I’m not entirely sure of the plot, I do know it stars the great Janet Hubert and Martin Lawrence, and my dear Twitter friend Kirk Moore is the showrunner, so it’s definitely on my list!

Blindspotting Season 2

This Starz series is not to be missed! It stars Jasmine Cephas Jones, Benjamin Earl Turner, and Jaylen Barron, and is executive produced by Daveed Diggs. If that’s not enough for you to tune in, clearly you haven’t seen any of them on screen before and therefore this is now a must! Stream Season 1 on Starz before you jump in to Season 2, but know that it’s artistic cinematography alone is worth watching this!

Black Barbie: A Documentary

Love her or hate her, almost everyone has a Barbie story. Even if they don’t have a story, there’s a story as to why they don’t have a story. In this film, the story behind the first Black Barbie is told, because yes, she has a story too. And it all started with the filmmaker’s 83-year old aunt, Beulah Mae Mitchell and a seemingly simple question, “Why not make a Barbie that looks like me?”

What To Do At SXSW 2023

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Tavern Experience

Gather at the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Tavern Experience in Austin, TX, during South by Southwest 2023. Taking place at The Highball at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, attendees can enjoy a fluorescent “Dragon’s Brew” amidst the immersive wooden interior and of course, the antagonistic Gelatinous Cube. And yes I’m just going for the drinks.

Camp Yellowjackets

SHOWTIME® will host Camp Yellowjackets, a 3-day interactive experience that will celebrate the release of the second season of the Emmy® Nominated series, Yellowjackets. This multi-day event will take place during the first weekend of South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals beginning Friday, March 10th through Sunday, March 12th and at the Fair Market in Austin, Texas. I won’t be going because of a schedule conflict, but it looks awesome.

Welcome to Prime, TX

Prime Video is putting down roots with the newly incorporated Prime, TX, at Hotel San Jose in Austin’s hotspot South Congress neighborhood. Just like Prime Video transports you to different worlds with its hit shows, Prime, TX is a portal to the Lone Star State of your dreams.

Enjoy craftier cocktails at “The Boys” XXXclusive Bar, southern hospitality from the American Country Music Awards, and harmonic vibes inside “Daisy Jones & the Six’s” recording studio, all set to some boot scootin’ boogie vibes from DJs Disko Cowboy, CRG, Kimmy K and more.

Come *grow* with the flow in “Harlem”, unleash your inner strength with “The Power”, and find your otherworldly side with “Carnival Row”. After you get a made-to-fade semi-permanent tattoo repping your favorite show, swing by Prime Denim Co. for a customized vintage stitch-shop experience. Finally, don’t forget to indulge at “The Summer I Turned Pretty” pie stand & cruise next door to Austin Motel for snacks & lotto prizes at the “Swarm” Mini Mart popup.

SWARM MINI MART

Prime Video’s new limited series “Swarm” is taking over the Austin Motel’s main lobby with an in-world convenience store pop-up, creating a sensory experience that illustrates the darkly indulgent tone of the series. Attendees of the pop-up activation will be able to immerse themselves in the world of “Swarm” with Dre’s getaway car photo moment complete with blood-stained seats, a wrapped dead body, and the ominous buzz of bees overhead. 

Upon entering the fluorescently lit and air-conditioned mini-mart, guests will receive custom cash to purchase their favorite snacks and refreshments off the shelves and stocked refrigerators, as well as exclusive, screen-printed t-shirts. All of Dre’s favorite junk food snacks and drinks with “Swarm” branded souvenir cups will be available for them to snag. While checking out, visitors can watch never-before-seen clips of the series on the surveillance monitors and will be given a lottery ticket for a chance to win various prizes, including a “Swarm” branded-bucket hat like Dre’s in the show.

Be sure to follow my Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Letterboxd accounts for photos, views, and reviews during SXSW 2023 (and after).

Last year, I covered the Sundance Film Festival from the comfort of my home … okay, well actually, from the comfort of a hotel! And yes, it was as peaceful as it sounds. But this year? Chaos! I’m a freakin’ MESS y’all. And that’s probably because I’ll be covering the festival in person this year! Yup, I’ll be screaming my love for each film I watch from the very tippy top of Utah’s snowy mountains this year. As if.

I’m already super annoyed that there’s actually snow on the ground there, when there hasn’t been a single snow flake here in NYC all winter so far. Not that global warming is a good thing or whatever.

Yet, despite my lack of interest for Utah’s weather at the momento, I am super excited to visit Salt Lake City for the very first time, and to finally meet a ton of folks that I’ve been talking to over the last few years. But you know what? Knowing that I’ll be covering all the BLACK films at Sundance 2023 for a THIRD year in a row … this time I’ll be there in person, covering the ones you’ll be dying to watch this year, is what REALLY makes me happy!

Last year, some of my favorite films premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, so I can’t wait to see what becomes a hit this year. Anywho, on to what you really came here for …

Here Are 7 Sundance 2023 Films (Featuring Black Talent) To Get Excited About This Year

1. All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt

Starring our faves — Sheila Atim (The Woman King) and Moses Ingram (Obi Wan Kenobi), Sundance raves that Raven Jackson’s “striking debut is an assured vision, unafraid to immerse us in moments of grief and longing, or within the thickness of things left unsaid”.

With, “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” … we get a taste of the life of Mack, a Black woman in Mississippi. Winding through the anticipation, love, and heartbreak she experiences from childhood to adulthood, the expressionist journey is an ode to connection — with loved ones and with place. And if you know me, you know ion’ care about none of that! I’m just here for the wild ride Sheila and Moses are gonna take us on, because they give POWERFUL performances every time they’re on screen!

Apparently the film has also already been acquired by A24. So for those of us following along on A24’s insane ride of a roster — with them releasing films like “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “Zola”, this means “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” is surely in good hands, and may turn out to be an audience favorite.

2. Magazine Dreams

Listen, Jonathan Majors is in this. Do I really need to say more?

For those of you rolling your eyes at me, and screaming “do your job and tell us what the damn film is actually about sis” … fine. Magazine Dreams, is about an amateur bodybuilder who struggles to find human connection as his relentless drive for recognition pushes him to the brink. Killian Maddox lives with his ailing veteran grandfather, and obsessively works out between court-mandated therapy appointments and his part-time shifts at a grocery store where he harbors a crush on a friendly cashier.

Though Killian’s struggles to read social cues and maintain control of his volatile temper amplify his sense of disconnection amid a hostile world, nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of bodybuilding superstardom, not even the doctors who warn that he’s causing permanent damage to his body with his quest.  

The film also stars Taylour Paige (Zola), who I’m hoping isn’t his love interest, but probably is? Eh, we’ll see! This is one of my most anticipated watches though, so I’m excited. And hopefully I run into Mr. Majors during Sundance? One can only dream.

3. Young. Wild. Free.

Featuring a star studded cast that includes Sierra Capri (On My Block), Algee Smith (The New Edition Story), Sanaa Lathan (Love and Basketball) and Mike Epps (Meet the Blacks), “Young. Wild. Free.” is Emmy-nominated (Only Murders in the Building) writer-director Thembi Banks’ feature debut, following her short film “Baldwin Beauty” that premiered during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

The story follows Algee Smith, as Brandon, a struggling teen in school, caring for his two younger siblings, and having just been let go from his job, Brandon often uses his art as an escape from the confines of his subdued day-to-day life. Enter Cassidy (played by Sierra Capri), a bedazzled bad girl dripping in confidence, freedom, and danger. Lured in by her whimsy, Brandon teams up with Cassidy, seamlessly slipping into the role of Clyde to her Bonnie as they make their way down an increasingly perilous path.

I’m not saying this is gonna take the world by storm like “Queen and Slim” did a few years ago … but um, it’s giving — I can’t WAIT to see how this ish plays out because this sounds hella interesting. Pretty sure I read somewhere that she robs him? So yeah …

4. A Thousand And One

While I’m not overly excited about the potential path “A Thousand And One” is planning on taking us down. I am a bit excited to see Teyana Taylor (Coming 2 America) on screen again.

Directed by Sundance alum A.V. Rockwell, “A Thousand and One” is set to take us on a journey, one that I’m sure many can possibly relate to. Aside from the kidnapping I suppose?

Alongside Teyana, Will Catlett (Charm City Kings, Black Boy Joy) — another one of my faves, also stars in this dramatic competition feature film. Convinced it’s one last, necessary crime on the path to redemption, unapologetic and free-spirited Inez kidnaps 6-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding on to their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in New York City.

5. Little Richard: I Am Everything

I’m not one for documentaries, but every now and then someone releases a doc that intrigues me. Last year it was the Cosby and Kanye docs, the year before that it was “Summer of Soul” and now this year it’s Little Richard.

According to Sundance, “director Lisa Cortés’ eye-opening documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything” explodes the whitewashed canon of American pop music and shines a clarifying light on the Black, queer origins of rock ’n’ roll, and establishes the genre’s big bang: Richard Wayne Penniman.”

So I look forward to learning all about the icon I grew up hearing so much about.

6. Landscape With Invisible Hand

In “Landscape with Invisible Hand”, Adam is a teenage artist coming of age in the aftermath of an alien takeover. The Vuvv, a species of hyper-intelligent extraterrestrials, brought wondrous technology to Earth, but only the wealthiest can afford it. The rest of humanity, their livelihoods now obsolete, have to scrape together money in the tourism industry.

Writer-director Cory Finley returns to Park City with a sci-fi trip flick that stars Asante Blackk (“When They See Us”, “This Is Us”), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place). I will be honest here though — Tiffany being apart of this cast, definitely lets me know how this fill will go. I tend to not like the films she’s in, especially when she’s casted for her comedy chops, but I’ll definitely be giving this a shot to see if she shocks me.

7. Rye Lane

In “Rye Lane”, Dom and Yas’ paths collide at the least opportune time: when Dom (David Jonsson) is ugly-crying in a toilet stall, steeling himself for an awkward meal with his ex, who cheated on him with his best friend. Nursing her own breakup wounds, freewheeling Yas decides to jump headfirst into the fray to lessen the sting as Dom’s date. What follows is a day of impulsive and joyous mayhem, as these two 20-something Londoners roam Peckham through karaoke bars and playgrounds, all the while inching toward the possibility of opening their hearts again.

And if I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that I love me a British film, so I can’t wait to see what director Raine Allen-Miller has in store for us with this romantic comedy that celebrates meeting the right person at the wrong time. And if it’s already been acquired by Searchlight Pictures … there’s definitely hope here. (Okay, maybe that’s not all the way true, but you get my point.)

But yeah, that’s my list of Black films you have to watch at Sundance 2023 this year.

Last year’s list (and the year before that) was super duper long, but I’m no longer interested in being the crazy person that tells you to watch ALL the things. Cause I don’t even have the dang gon’ time to watch ALL the things, so let’s not pretend that we can do it all this year.

This year, I’m sharing all the things that excite me, or annoy the f*ck out of me, no in between, mediocre mumbo jumbo crap. Let someone else tell you about the things that aren’t even worth mentioning … *cough* like Netflix’s Kaleidoscope series. I’m just saying. Get somebody else to do it! Otherwise, happy Sundancing! Let me know what’s on YOUR watch list, and if you’ll be watching any of the films above.