Valley-Made Film Manic Set for Final Free Screening at Cine El Rey

MCALLEN, Texas — An independent feature film produced entirely in the Rio Grande Valley will return to the big screen one final time before heading exclusively to streaming platforms.

Manic, directed by local filmmaker Joe Rios, is scheduled for a free public screening at Cine El Rey Theatre at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10. The screening will mark the final theatrical presentation of the film before it becomes available on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video.

According to the film’s official listing on IMDb, Manic is a dark comedy exploring themes of mental health, emotional instability and personal struggle. The story follows a young woman named Lexi as she navigates intense psychological and interpersonal conflicts, with the narrative driven largely by dark humor.

Please Note: The film's trailer may not be appropriate for all ages. Viewer discretion advised.

Rios said the final screening holds special meaning because it brings the film back to the community where it was created. "I hope everyone can get a chance to go and experience the movie," said Rios. "It's a fun time watching it with a big crowd."

Rios has described the project as a personal production loosely inspired by real life experiences growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, which served not only as the filming location but also as a creative foundation for the story.

Following the Feb. 10 screening, Manic will move to digital distribution on streaming platforms. Cine El Rey Theatre staff said seating for the free screening will be available on a first-come basis.