Preston Barta

Denton

Film and TV Critic and Journalist at Denton Record-Chronicle

Film and TV Critic and Journalist at Fresh Fiction

Journalist at @DentonRC & @FreshFiction. Tomatometer-approved. @CriticsChoice & @DFWFilmCritics. Fear & Loathing in Cinema Podcast & My Bloody Podcast 🎙️

Featured in: Favicon

dentonrc.com Favicon

redcarpetcrash.com Favicon

freshfiction.tv Favicon

freshfiction.com Favicon

kdhnews.com Favicon

victoriaadvocate.com Favicon

tylerpaper.com Favicon

fbherald.com Favicon

mirrorspectator.com Favicon

inforney.com + 2 more

Articles

Turnover Celebrates 10 Years of Peripheral Vision With Sold-Out Dallas Show

10 hours ago | dallasobserver.com | Preston Barta

On Tuesday night, May 13, House of Blues Dallas was packed with fans ready to bask in the glow of Turnover’s landmark albumCelebrating its tenth anniversary, the Virginia Beach indie-rock darlings embarked on a nostalgic and electric evening, treating the sold-out crowd to the album in its entirety for the first time on tour. Texas air, heavy with heat and the coming summer, pressed close inside the venue—but no one seemed to care.
Mission too far? ‘The Final Reckoning’ stretches thin but still delivers thrills

11 hours ago | dentonrc.com | Preston Barta

Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and his Impossible Mission Force (IMF) team have dazzled audiences for nearly three decades with jaw-dropping stunts, intricate schemes and the kind of movie magic that makes you grip the edge of your seat. With Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, the eighth entry in the smash-hit series, Cruise delivers more of what fans expect—but also more of what fans don’t need.
"'Footloose' meets 'Scream'... and then some": Inside 'Clown in a Cornfield' with Eli Craig and Adam Cesare

5 days ago | dentonrc.com | Preston Barta

What happens when small-town nostalgia and generational rage collide in a bloody, clown-fueled rampage? Author Adam Cesare and director Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) bring that twisted cocktail to life in Clown in a Cornfield (read our review here), a film as absurd as it is compelling.
Club Clearview Forever: A Journey Through Dallas' Longtime Cultural Hub

5 days ago | dallasobserver.com | Preston Barta

To walk into Club Clearview during its peak was to tiptoe into a dream stitched together by paint fumes, guitar riffs and sheer electricity.
Scottish Rock Band Mogwai Closes Out North American Tour in Dallas

1 week ago | dallasobserver.com | Preston Barta

The Echo Lounge, located in the heart of the Design District, provided the perfect setting for such an intimate and emotionally charged night. Though its exterior exuded the clean lines of corporate minimalism, the venue’s interior was warm and engaging. Some fans swore they spotted Stuart Braithwaite, Mogwai’s frontman and guitarist, doing laps outside before the show with earbuds in, a ritualistic warm-up perhaps only he could explain.
Former Dallas Poet Laureate Joaquín Zihuatanejo Is Still Reclaiming Time

1 week ago | dallasobserver.com | Preston Barta

Joaquín Zihuatanejo speaks like a poet even in casual conversation. Sitting in a worn green chair in the corner of Deep Vellum Bookstore, his words seem to rise from the depths of his soul, filling the space with history, pain and beauty. “Poetry isn’t something I create,” he says, leaning forward as if he feels closer to the truth of his own words.
‘Thunderbolts*’ review: Marvel’s band of misfits finds redemption in chaos

2 weeks ago | dentonrc.com | Preston Barta

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its share of peaks and valleys over the years. Once a well-oiled machine that meticulously fused character arcs, humor and bombastic storytelling to create cultural moments, recent offerings have staggered under the weight of expectations. Yet, Marvel’s newest ensemble film, Thunderbolts*, feels like a cautious but meaningful step toward restoring its former luster. It’s not a perfect entry, but much like its titular antiheroes, it thrives in its imperfection.
Denton Amplified: Thin Line Fest Shines a Spotlight on Music’s Untamed Spirit

2 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Preston Barta

There’s no place like Denton where creativity walks every street and music spills from every corner. From Wednesday, April 23, through Sunday, April 27, Thin Line Fest transformed this artistic haven into a living, breathing celebration of sound and vision. With its infectious energy and offbeat charm, Thin Line once again proved that Denton isn’t just a town but a muse, an incubator for wild energy and unbridled talent. Here’s a closer look at the acts that made this festival unforgettable.
Exclusive First Look: The Salamander King Trailer Debuts Ahead of DIFF Opening

2 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Preston Barta

Buckle up your golf carts and grab your nine irons: Texas is about to crown a new cinematic hero.will make its world premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival , delivering a heartfelt love letter to Austin’s quirky charm and the unbreakable spirit of community.This feature debut from Texas native Austin Nichols , celebrated for his roles inand last year’s, promises a comedy film packed with hometown pride and high jinks.We got early access to the teaser trailer, which wastes no time...
'Sea Lions of the Galapagos' review: A pounce, a plunge and a portrait of nature’s resilience

3 weeks ago | dentonrc.com | Preston Barta

When Earth Day arrives, it brings with it a renewed wonder for the natural world, and Disneynature’s latest documentary, Sea Lions of the Galapagos, swims into our hearts with all the grace and playfulness of its titular stars. Gently narrated by Brendan Fraser, an Oscar-winning actor wielding both gravitas and glee, this film is more than a wildlife documentary. It’s a coming-of-age tale, a visual odyssey and a celebration of a delicate yet resilient ecosystem.