Casey Makes a Mixtape (2025)

A 13-year-old girl, a jambox and a long summer in small-town Texas make up this gentle throwback to the coming-of-age films of the 1980s.

Nostalgia is a powerful ingredient in movies, and few eras attract more of it than the early 1980s. Casey Makes a Mixtape, written and directed by Blake Calhoun, sets its story in the summer of 1981, when music came on cassette tapes, radios were the main source of new songs and a skateboard could take you anywhere. The film arrived on digital and streaming platforms on October 14, 2025.

The Story

The film follows Casey, a 13-year-old who is sent from her California home to spend the summer with her grandparents in a small Texas town. Casey, played by Presley Richardson, barely knows them, and nothing about the town feels familiar. Her mother drives her there and leaves her in the care of Mimi and Poppy, played by Jennifer Griffin and Brad Leland.

Casey has one great passion: music. She spends her free time recording songs from the radio, trying to put together the perfect mixtape. With only a skateboard, a jambox and plenty of determination, she tries to finish her project while adjusting to her unfamiliar surroundings. Along the way she meets two local kids, Craig and Carrie, played by Julian Hilliard and Kennedy Celeste, who become her first friends in town.

A Quiet, Observational Film

This is not a movie driven by big plot twists. It is an observational coming-of-age story that follows a girl through a few weeks of summer, with comic and dramatic moments along the way. Casey and her grandparents sometimes clash, but they generally get along, even when they do not fully understand one another.

That gentle approach is a defining feature. The film is more interested in mood and character than in dramatic conflict, and it lets scenes breathe. Viewers who enjoy slow, low-key stories about growing up will find a lot to appreciate.

The Cast

Presley Richardson makes her film debut as Casey, and she carries the movie with an easygoing, natural presence. Casey is curious and independent but also a bit lonely, and Richardson plays both sides without overdoing either.

Julian Hilliard, known for his work in television and horror films, plays Craig, and Kennedy Celeste plays Carrie. Their scenes with Casey provide the film’s lighter moments and capture the awkward charm of new friendships. Brad Leland and Jennifer Griffin are warm and funny as the grandparents, and Arianne Martin and Brandon Potter appear as Casey’s parents.

Music at the Center

A film about a mixtape depends on its use of music, and the movie makes interesting choices. Drum beats and musical cues appear when Casey talks about songs with her friends, which gives the soundtrack a playful, rhythmic quality. One reviewer called this a superb choice that makes the film stand out from other coming-of-age stories set in similar periods.

The idea of the mixtape is also a perfect symbol. Choosing songs, putting them in order and recording them from the radio is a personal act, a way to express feelings that are hard to say aloud. For Casey, the tape becomes a way to understand herself.

Capturing 1981

The period details help establish the setting. Cassette tapes, boomboxes, skateboards and small-town Texas life create a nostalgic backdrop without turning the film into a parody. The look is warm and sunny, and the production aims for authenticity over spectacle.

Because the film is set in a time before smartphones and streaming, it highlights how people once made connections. A friend might trade a tape, a radio host might play a song at just the right moment, and a summer could feel endless.

Reception

Critics were divided. Film Threat described the film as cute but slight, praising the acting and the craftsmanship while noting that the story is simple. Other reviewers found it too gentle, arguing that very little happens and that the movie does not fully explore its potential.

These reactions suggest that the film will work best for viewers who enjoy mood and nostalgia more than plot. It is a small movie, and it makes no attempt to be anything else.

Why It Matters

Independent films like this one give new filmmakers and young actors a chance to tell personal stories. Calhoun’s screenplay draws on the spirit of classic 1980s teen films, while Richardson’s debut shows promise for a new talent.

There is also something comforting about a movie that is willing to slow down. In an age of constant noise, a story about a girl and her mixtape feels almost radical.

Final Thoughts

Casey Makes a Mixtape is a sweet and unhurried summer story with a likable lead and a good ear for music. It will not please viewers who want a fast plot, but fans of nostalgic coming-of-age films should find it a pleasant way to spend an evening. Press play, and let the summer of 1981 begin.

Director and writer: Blake Calhoun. Producer: Joey Stewart. Cast: Presley Richardson, Julian Hilliard, Kennedy Celeste, Brad Leland, Jennifer Griffin, Arianne Martin, Brandon Potter.