Indie Film Release Guide: August 30th [An ONTD Original]

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Labor Day weekend must be absolutely horrific for box office performance, because every major studio is avoiding it like the plague. Of course there are a bunch of indies to peruse as usual, as well as the director’s cut of Midsommar, which is only in theaters this weekend.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia and Disney. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: August 23rd, August 16th, and August 9th.

Official Secrets

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Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith
Writer: Gregory Bernstein, Sara Bernstein, Gavin Hood
Director: Gavin Hood
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Plot: The true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
What you should know: Based on the book by Marcia Mitchell and Thomas Mitchell.
Opens in: Select cities



Don’t Let Go

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Stars: David Oyelowo, Storm Reid, Byron Mann, Mykelti Williamson
Writer: Jacob Estes, Drew Daywalt
Director: Jacob Estes
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Plot: Detective Jack Radcliff gets a shocking phone call from his recently murdered niece Ashley. Working together across time, they race to solve the crime before it can happen.
What you should know: The film appears to have a similar premise to the 2000 film Frequency, only using cell phones instead of ham radio.
Opens in: Wide release

The Load (Teret)

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Stars: Leon Lucev, Pavle Cemerikic, Tamara Krcunovic, Ivan Lucev
Writer/Director: Ognjen Glavonic
Genre: Drama
Plot: During the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, a truck driver is tasked with transporting a mysterious load from Kosovo to Belgrade.
What you should know: It’s in Serbian
Opens in: Select cities

Before You Know It

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Stars: Judith Light, Mandy Patinkin, Hannah Pearl Utt, Jen Tullock
Writer: Jen Tullock, Hannah Pearl Utt
Director: Hannah Pearl Utt
Genre: Comedy
Plot: In 1993 New York City, dysfunctional co-dependent sisters discover that the mother they thought had died when they were young is alive and starring on a popular daytime soap opera.
What you should know: Writer/director/lead Hannah Pearl Utt recently appeared in Ingrid Goes West.
Opens in: Select cities

Itsy Bitsy

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Stars: Matthew Cardarople, Denise Crosby, Bruce Davison, Eileen Dietz
Writer: Jason Alvino, Bryan Dick, Micah Gallo
Director: Micah Gallo
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Plot: Based on the centuries old poem, a family moves into a secluded mansion where they soon find themselves being targeted by an entity taking the form of a giant spider.
What you should know: The budget was about $7 million.
Opens in: Select cities

Spider in the Web

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Stars: Ben Kingsley, Monica Bellucci, Itay Tiran, Itzik Cohen
Writer: Gidon Maron, Emmanuel Naccache
Director: Eran Riklis
Genre: Thriller
Plot: Adereth is an aging spy on one last mission to redeem his life and career before the clock runs out. But when the lines of trust begin to blur, he soon realizes that the hunter may become the hunted in a world of mirrors and deceit.
What you should know: The director’s last film was 2017’s Shelter.
Opens in: Select cities

Angel of Mine

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Stars: Yvonne Strahovski, Luke Evans, Noomi Rapace, Richard Roxburgh
Writer: Luke Davies, David Regal
Director: Kim Farrant
Genre: Thriller
Plot: A woman grieving over the death of her daughter loses grip of reality when she begins to think her girl may still be alive.
What you should know: Filmed in Australia.
Opens in: Select theaters and on demand

Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins

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Director: Janice Engel
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Tells the story of media firebrand Molly Ivins, six feet of Texas trouble who took on the Good Old Boy corruption wherever she found it. Her razor sharp wit left both sides of the aisle laughing, and craving ink in her columns. She knew the Bill of Rights was in peril, and said "Polarizing people is a good way to win an election and a good way to wreck a country." Molly's words have proved prescient.
What you should know: Many current media figures pop up as talking heads, including Rachel Maddow and Paul Krugman.
Opens in: Select cities in Texas; expands nationwide in September

Killerman

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Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Emory Cohen, Diane Guerrero, Nickola Shreli
Writer/Director: Malik Bader
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Plot: Moe Diamond is a New York City money launderer who wakes up with no memory and millions of dollars in stolen cash and drugs. He must soon scour the streets in search of answers while trying to dodge a crew of violent and crooked cops.
What you should know: The director also appears in the film.
Opens in: Select cities

The Fanatic

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Stars: John Travolta, Devon Sawa, Ana Golja, Jacob Grodnik
Writer: Dave Bekerman, Fred Durst
Director: Fred Durst
Genre: Thriller
Plot: A rabid film fan stalks his favorite action hero and destroys the star's life.
What you should know: Yes, it’s that Fred Durst, who has also directed The Longshots, The Education of Charlie Banks, and a million Puddle of Mudd videos.
Opens in: Select cities

Also opening: Santa Girl (Trailer), The Miracle of the Little Prince (Trailer), Tabernacle 101 (Trailer), Tod@S Caen (Trailer), Bennett’s War (Trailer), Surkhi Bindi (Trailer)

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Planning on seeing anything this weekend?