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Preston Barta

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Preston Barta is the film critic for the Denton Record-Chronicle and co-hosts the podcasts “My Bloody Podcast” and “Fear and Loathing in Cinema.” He is a member of both the Critics Choice Association and the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association. Previously, he served as the features editor and chief film critic for Fresh Fiction. Additionally, he has contributed to 92.1 KTFW in Fort Worth, Texas, as a film critic, and has written for the North Texas Daily. Preston has also been a juror for the Dallas International Film Festival and other student short film festivals. He holds a B.A. in English Literature and has studied Radio, Television, and Film (RTVF) at the University of North Texas.

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Crash Land (2026) 100% EDIT “A coming-of-age adventure about backyard stunts, bruised shins and a heart that knows how to win. This one explores grief through filmmaking and creative ambition, blending sincerity with genuine fun. ” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review I Love Boosters (2026) 94% EDIT “This film is mind-blowingly creative and funny as hell, even when its wild ambition sometimes whirls out of control. Filmmaker Boots Riley is a bold risk-taker who rewards adventurous viewers, and star Keke Palmer is a knockout. ” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review Over Your Dead Body (2026) 68% EDIT “Imagine a romantic comedy filtered through the adrenaline and quirk of the "Zed’s dead" sequence in "Pulp Fiction." It’s offbeat, stylish and memorable as filmmaker Jorma Taccone brings the heat.” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review The Ascent (2026) 100% EDIT “What sets this documentary apart is its beautifully literary editing style as the film parallels [Mandy Horvath's] harrowing ascent with her adapted everyday routines and the chilling investigation into her trauma.” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review Hokum (2026) 88% EDIT “Directed by Damian McCarthy, this traditional, restrained horror piece feels exactly like a classic Stephen King story that the legendary author simply forgot to write.” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review See You When I See You (2026) 74% EDIT “What could’ve easily veered into melodramatic territory that’s more forced than forceful, Duplass and Co. skillfully balance humor and profound devastation, working in visionary elements that delve deeper into the raw, authentic emotions at play.” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review Leviticus (2026) 97% EDIT “Chiarella’s control of atmosphere and tone elevates the film from a standard genre piece into a deeply resonant work of art.” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review Wishful Thinking (2026) 100% EDIT “This sci-fi romantic comedy introduces us to a premise as delightfully original as it is profoundly human.” – Dallas Observer May 6, 2026 Full Review Mother Mary (2026) 72% EDIT “It is a film with a lot on its mind, finding beautiful, intense ways to explore unresolved pain while also opening up the sensation of discovering a new dimension in life.” – Dallas Observer Apr 14, 2026 Full Review The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) 42% 3/5 EDIT “While this sequel might not have the gravitational pull to truly reach the stars its title promises, it remains a vibrant, fun-enough continuation that will happily appease younger audiences and coax a few chuckles from the adults in the room.” – Denton Record-Chronicle Apr 1, 2026 Full Review Power Ballad (2026) 87% EDIT “Carney proves once again that music can bridge the gap between who we are and who we want to be, underscoring the magic of collaboration. Sweet, dramatically intense and creatively rich.” – Dallas Observer Mar 27, 2026 Full Review Anima (2026) 85% EDIT “While the film flirts with high-concept science fiction, its heart remains entirely and painfully human. A deeply moving, cross-cultural retrofuturistic drama.” – Dallas Observer Mar 20, 2026 Full Review The Gates (2026) 48% EDIT “'The Gates' easily could have been a standard, throwaway thriller. Instead, it is a fun, intense and socially resonant ride that treats its characters — and its setting — with deep respect.” – Dallas Observer Mar 18, 2026 Full Review Scream 7 (2026) 31% EDIT “'Scream 7' isn’t a disaster. It’s something far more damning for a franchise built on meta-commentary and razor-sharp wit. It is remarkably and painfully ordinary.” – Dallas Observer Mar 2, 2026 Full Review Wuthering Heights (2026) 57% EDIT “The good news? Fennell’s latest is indeed a ravishing, hot-blooded affair. The better news? It’s also one of the most exquisitely crafted and emotionally arresting films you’ll see all year.” – Dallas Observer Feb 18, 2026 Full Review The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026) 17% EDIT “But here is the twist ending you might not have seen coming: 'The Strangers – Chapter 3' is easily the best of the bunch. It is the destination that finally justifies the journey.” – Denton Record-Chronicle Feb 7, 2026 Full Review Whistle (2025) 64% EDIT “It takes the "cursed object" trope and injects it with fresh blood—specifically, the characters' own.” – Denton Record-Chronicle Feb 7, 2026 Full Review The Moment (2026) 67% EDIT “If you are looking for a standard music documentary, look elsewhere. But if you want to see an artist dissect their own fame with a scalpel while the world watches, this is the ticket to buy.” – Dallas Observer Feb 4, 2026 Full Review Shelter (2026) 65% EDIT “It manages to be a kinetic thriller and a character study, a story about a man who is a precision instrument of violence learning to be a precision instrument of care.” – Dallas Observer Jan 31, 2026 Full Review My Bloody Valentine (1981) 39% B EDIT “My Bloody Valentine breaks beyond the surface similarities of its genre brethren. It may have the masked killer and implausible deaths, but it also has complex characters and mystery ingredients that give it a pulse.” – Fresh Fiction Jan 28, 2026 Full Review All That's Left of You (2025) 100% EDIT “A devastatingly beautiful portrait of a family trying to survive the echoes of the past without letting the noise drown out their humanity.” – Dallas Observer Jan 23, 2026 Full Review 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) 92% 5/5 EDIT “'The Bone Temple' is the discordant, beautiful, heavy metal solo that shreds through the silence. It is a film that vibrates with a punk rock energy, chaotic and raw, yet possesses a soul so tender it aches.” – Denton Record-Chronicle Jan 13, 2026 Full Review One Battle After Another (2025) 94% EDIT “From Leo’s iconic whistling to Penn’s intense performance, 'One Battle After Another' is a cinematic feast that keeps you on your toes.” – Dallas Observer Dec 20, 2025 Full Review Jay Kelly (2025) 76% EDIT “Yes, it’s a "sad, rich, white person’s movie," but 'Jay Kelly' transcends its premise with a specificity and charm that’s impossible to resist.” – Dallas Observer Dec 20, 2025 Full Review Fuck My Son! (2025) 31% EDIT “You might vomit, you will almost certainly squirm, and you’ll likely question the life choices. But for those who appreciate cinema that pushes buttons until the whole console breaks, this is an unmissable event.” – Dallas Observer Dec 20, 2025 Full Review
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