Indie Film Release Guide: August 7th [An ONTD Original]
One of the biggest VOD releases this week is She Dies Tomorrow, which headed up last week’s post because it opened in drive-ins. So if you missed that, check it out here. In addition to that, it's a pretty busy week for new releases - some going straight to streaming services, some available to buy or rent wherever you do those things, and some available via virtual cinemas, which help to support your local indie theater.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. All films listed will be available at their respective sources on Friday unless otherwise noted. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have already come to VOD: July 31st, July 24th, and July 17th.
Work It
Click to viewStars: Sabrina Carpenter, Jordan Fisher, Keiynan Lonsdale, Liza Koshy
Writer: Alison Peck
Director: Laura Terruso
Genre: Comedy, Music
Plot: When Quinn Ackerman's admission to the college of her dreams depends on her performance at a dance competition, she forms a ragtag group of dancers to take on the best squad in school...now she just needs to learn how to dance.
What you should know: Screenwriter Alison Peck previously wrote the script for UglyDolls
Where to stream: Netflix
An American Pickle
Stars: Seth Rogen, Sarah Snook, Molly Evensen, Eliot Glazer
Writer: Simon Rich
Director: Brandon Trost
Genre: Comedy
Plot: An immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern day Brooklyn.
What you should know: This is the first film produced by Seth Rogen that is not rated R.
Where to stream: HBO Max, available now
The Secret Garden
Stars: Dixie Egerickx, Colin Firth, Julie Walters,
Writer: Jack Thorne
Director: Marc Munden
Genre: Drama. Family, Fantasy
Plot: An orphaned girl discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle's estate.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Where to stream: Available VOD
I Used to Go Here
Stars: Gillian Jacobs, Jemaine Clement, Hannah Marks, Kate Micucci
Writer/Director: Kris Rey
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Following the launch of her new novel, 35-year-old writer Kate is invited to speak at her alma matter by her former professor. After accepting the invitation, Kate finds herself deeply enmeshed in the lives of a group of college students.
What you should know: Director Kris Rey, formerly known as Kris Swanberg, last directed 2015’s Unexpected.
Where to stream: Available VOD
Made in Italy
Stars: Liam Neeson, Valeria Bilello, Micheál Richardson, Lindsay Duncan
Writer/Director: James D’Arcy
Genre: Comedy
Plot: A bohemian artist who travels from London to Italy with his estranged son to sell the house they inherited from his late wife.
What you should know: Micheál Richardson is Liam Neeson’s son IRL.
Where to stream: Available VOD
La Llorona
Stars: Maria Mercedes Coroy, Margarita Kenefic, Sabrina de la Hoz, Julio Diaz
Writer: Jayro Bustamante, Lisandro Sanchez
Director: Jayro Bustamante
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Plot: An aging paranoid dictator, protected by an witchcrafting wife, faces death and the uprise of his people in Guatemala.
What you should know: It’s in Spanish.
Where to stream: Shudder, available now
River City Drumbeat
Director: Anne Flatte, Marlon Johnson
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Edward "Nardie" White devoted his life to leading the African-American drum corps he co-founded with Zambia Nkrumah in Louisville, Kentucky three decades ago. Together, they inspired youth from their West Louisville neighborhood to thrive by connecting them with the art and cultural traditions of their African ancestors. Now Albert Shumake, whose destiny was shaped by the drumline, must take up the mantle for the next generation.
What you should know: Director Marlon Johnson previously directed Symphony in D, a documentary about the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
Out Stealing Horses
Stars: Stellan Skarsgård, Bjørn Floberg, Tobias Santelmann, Danica Curcic
Writer/Director: Hans Petter Moland
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Plot: A grieving widower moves to the country where a chance encounter rekindles memories from his past.
What you should know: It’s in Norweigian and Swedish, based on the novel by Per Petterson.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
Song Without A Name
Stars: Pamela Mendoza, Tommy Párraga, Lucio Rojas
Writer: Melina León, Michael J. White
Director: Melina León
Genre: Drama
Plot: Georgina's newborn daughter is stolen at a fake health clinic. Her desperate search for the child leads her to the headquarters of a major newspaper, where she meets a lonely journalist who takes on the investigation.
What you should know: It’s in Spanish and Quechuan.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
A Thousand Cuts
Director: Ramona S. Diaz
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: A look at how Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte uses social media to spread disinformation.
What you should know: Nominated for the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2020.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
More New Releases:
Howard (Trailer) (Disney+)
The Tax Collector (Trailer)
Waiting for the Barbarians (Trailer)
Psychomagic: A Healing Art (Trailer)
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?