Indie Film Release Guide: October 18th [An ONTD Original]
The new major studio releases this weekend are Zombieland 2 and Maleficient: Mistress of Evil, both of which are sequels. But if you're looking for something a bit more original this weekend, read on for some of this week's indie releases.
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: October 11th, October 4th, and September 27th.
The Lighthouse
Click to viewStars: Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson,
Writer: Max Eggers, Robert Eggers
Director: Robert Eggers
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Plot: The hypnotic and hallucinatory tale of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.
What you should know: The film is in black and white with an aspect ratio of 1.19:1, which is unusual for modern films. Apparently RPattz went extremely method for this one; read this Esquire article for the details on that.
Opens in: Select cities
Jojo Rabbit
Stars: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Watiti
Writer: Taika Watiti, based on the novel by Christine Leunens
Director: Taika Watiti
Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
Plot: A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy named Jojo whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother has a secret. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.
What you should know: Filmed in the Czech Republic
Opens in: Select cities
Greener Grass
Stars: Jocelyn DeBoer, Beck Bennett, Mary Holland, D’Arcy Carden
Writer: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
Director: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Suburban soccer moms find themselves constantly competing against each other in their personal lives as their kids settle their differences on the field.
What you should know: Remake of their short film by the same name.
Opens in: Select cities
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
Stars: Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Melissa Benoist, Matt Damon
Writer/Director: Kevin Smith
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Jay and Silent Bob return to Hollywood to stop a reboot of Bluntman and Chronic movie from getting made.
What you should know: This is a direct sequel to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Opens in: Select cities
Cyrano, My Love
Stars: Thomas Solivérès, Olivier Gourmet, Mathilde Seigner, Tom Leeb
Writer/Director: Alexis Michalik
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Plot: December 1897, Paris. Edmond Rostand is not yet thirty but already has two children and too much anxiety. He has not written anything for two years. In desperation, he offers the great Constant Coquelin a new play, a heroic comedy, in verse, for the holidays. There’s one problem: it is not written yet.
What you should know: It’s in French and Russian
Opens in: Select cities
The Elephant Queen
Director: Mark Deeble, Victoria Stone
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Athena is a mother who will do everything in her power to protect her herd when they are forced to leave their waterhole. This epic journey, narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, takes audiences across the African savannah, and into the heart of an elephant family. A tale of love, loss and coming home.
What you should know: It’s one of Apple TV’s first feature offerings, premiering on the app November 1st.
Opens in: Select cities
By the Grace of God
Stars: Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet, Swann Arlaud, Éric Caravaca
Writer/Director: François Ozon
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot: The three men, friends of childhood, will cross, compare their personal experiences and question their life of couple, family and professional.
What you should know: The title of this movie is the translation of the French phrase "Grâce à Dieu", which is commonly used like "Thank God" is in English.
Opens in: Select cities
Serendipity
Director: Prune Nourry
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Multi-disciplinary French artist Prune Nourry has gained international recognition for her thought- provoking, educational, and often humorous projects exploring bioethics through sculpture, video, photography, and performance. At the young age of 31, Prune is diagnosed with breast cancer. She starts documenting her treatment and its effect on her own body, turning her medical odyssey into a disarmingly intimate artistic undertaking that leads her to find new meaning in her work and its serendipitous relationship to her own survival.
What you should know: It’s in English, French and Chinese
Opens in: Select cities
The Cave
Director: Feras Fayyad
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Tells the story of a hidden underground hospital in Syria and the unprecedented female-led team who risk their lives to provide medical care to the besieged local population.
What you should know: It’s in Arabic and English.
Opens in: Select cities
Trick
Stars: Omar Epps, Jamie Kennedy, Tom Atkins, Ellen Adair
Writer: Todd Farmer, Patrick Lussier
Director: Patrick Lussier
Genre: Horror
Plot: A no-nonsense detective tries to track down a serial killer named Trick, who is terrorizing a small town.
What you should know: The director has done several horror movies prior to this, such as My Bloody Valentine and Dracula 2000.
Opens in: Select cities and available VOD
Also opening: Immortal Hero (Trailer), Thrasher Road (Trailer), Rezo (Trailer), Emanuel (Trailer), Fiddlin’ (Trailer), Echoes of Fear (Trailer)
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?