SXSW 2024 Review: Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird

Charting the personal and musical evolution of Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (of At the Drive-In / The Mars Volta fame), Nicolas Jack Davies’ intimate new documentary on the pair is made up almost entirely of footage captured by Rodríguez-López over the past four decades.

Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird, charts their humble beginnings to the eventual explosive growth of At the Drive-In and their genre-pushing work in The Mars Volta. Rodríguez-López filmed it all along the way, and that footage makes up the backbone for Davies’ thoughtful and reflective film.

Davies presents a deep dive into the wildly creative and at times combustive nature of the relationship between Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala that forms the core of all their projects. From growing up in the punk scene to celebrating their Latino heritage through the music, the film tackles themes of addition, sexuality, and spirituality head-on, with voice-over from Omar and Cedric honestly reflecting back on their experiences and the highs and lows of their time together.

An open look at a musical pair that always seemed uneasy in the spotlight, Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird is a must-see for fans and anyone interested in a hands-on look at the music business.