Austin Film Festival 2026

Storyline (IMDb) – When two self-destructive best friends accidentally kill their drug dealer, they have to flee town. Stopping at a roadside antique shop, they quickly discover that the older woman running the place isn’t as sweet as she seems.

The horror‑thriller Oddities screened at the Austin Film Festival (AFF) in the Dark Matters Feature category. Oddities world premiered at the Brussels International Film Festival on April 14, 2026. It went on to screen at other film festivals in the UK and the USA this year before its Texas Premiere in Austin. Written and directed by Tyler Savage (Inheritance and Stalker), the feature film blends genres: crime thriller, horror, and dark comedy. Savage also made the 2023 short film that the feature is based on.

While the two friends are on the run, they go through a small town. While evading a possible questioning, they see a place that may be a “safe” place to get off the road. The antique shop’s owner, Betty (Adrienne Barbeau, “Gotham Girls” TV series, Creepshow, Escape from New York), is very welcoming, but it takes 5 minutes or less to learn she isn’t the kind person she projects. I noticed the “sweetness” felt a little fake, and I internally predicted a surprise twist was in store for the two friends evading trouble. Barbeau’s shift to hiding the young women and turning away inquisitive visitors to her shop is a highlight, as the veteran actor’s talent shines through and elevates the film’s horror-thriller story, which also includes wry humor.

The cast of this horror-thriller is small; aside from the aforementioned, it includes Xander Berkeley (Candyman), Will Oldham (A Ghost Story), Lucas Fleisher, James Lee Thomas, and Gunner Willis in key roles. Miguel Angel Garcia (Danny) also has a few scenes that are not to be missed. Miguel is in 2023’s SXSW Film Festival Audience Award winner, The Long Game, which premiered in theaters in 2024. He starred in the Hulu series Promised Land as “Joe, Jr.” and this year stars in the “Dear Killer Nannies: Criado por sicarios” TV Series.

While the film is not groundbreaking as a horror film, I think it is a good experience for anyone ready to explore “horror” films they have avoided before. While more die-hard horror fans may find the plot “formulaic” and/or predictable, I can still see this movie appealing to some younger viewers with its storyline. It wouldn’t be the first film to go through the film circuit, then have a theatrical/streaming release, and gather positive buzz.

Produced by: David Broad, Noah Lang, Tyler Savage, Javier Gonzalez, Max Neace

Director of Photography: Antonio Cisneros

The runtime is 89 minutes.

Source: IMDb, Austin Film Festival