Indie Film Release Guide: May 14th [An ONTD Original]
Angelina Jolie makes her return to the big screen this weekend in Those Who Wish Me Dead from Warner Bros, which will also be available on HBO Max. But while most of the other major studios are skipping this weekend entirely, the indies are giving us a plethora of new films to watch in theaters and at home.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony 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: May 7th, April 30th, and April 23rd.
The Woman in the Window
Click to viewStars: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Wyatt Russell
Writer: Tracy Letts
Director: Joe Wright
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Plot: An agoraphobic woman living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbors, only to witness a disturbing act of violence.
What you should know: Based on the book by A.J. Finn, aka Daniel Mallory, an author whose many deceptions were exposed in this article in the New Yorker shortly after the release of ths book. Highly recommend giving it a read!
Where to watch: Netflix
Profile
Stars: Valene Kane, Shazad Latif, Christine Adams, Amir Rahimzadeh
Writer: Britt Poulton, Olga Kharina, Timur Bekmambetov
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Plot: An undercover British journalist infiltrates the online propaganda channels of the so-called Islamic State, only to be sucked in by her recruiter.
What you should know: Based on the book by Anna Erelle, the film screened at Berlinale in early 2018, before the release of the similarly filmed Searching. Both films were produced by the director of this film.
Where to watch: In theaters
Spiral
Stars: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, Samuel L. Jackson
Writer: Josh Stolberg, Pete Goldfinger
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery
Plot: Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks and his rookie partner take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.
What you should know: This is the fourth Saw installment to be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
Where to watch: In theaters
Army of the Dead
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera, Hiroyuki Sanada
Writer: Zack Snyder, Shay Hattan, Joby Harold
Director: Zack Snyder
Genre: Action, Crime, Horror
Plot: Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.
What you should know: Tig Notaro was added to the cast in post-production to replace disgraced sex pest Chris D’Elia.
Where to watch: In theaters; available on Netflix May 21st
The Killing of Two Lovers
Stars: Chris Coy, Clayne Crawford, Arri Graham, Sepideh Moafi
Writer/Director: Robert Machoian
Genre: Drama
Plot: David desperately tries to keep his family of six together during a separation from his wife. They both agree to see other people but David struggles to grapple with his wife's new relationship.
What you should know: Picked up several nominations and a win on the film festival circuit in 2020-2021.
Where to watch: In select theaters, and available VOD
The Djinn
Stars: Ezra Dewey, Rob Brownstein, Tevy Poe, John Erickson
Writer/Director: David Charbonier, Justin Powell
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Plot: A mute boy is trapped in his apartment with a sinister monster when he makes a wish to fulfill his heart's greatest desire.
What you should know: This writer/director duo also directed the upcoming horror film The Boy Behind the Door.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Finding You
Stars: Rose Reid, Jedidiah Goodacre, Katherine McNamara, Tom Everett Scott
Writer/Director: Brian Baugh
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Finley, a talented aspiring violinist, meets Beckett, a famous young movie star, on the way to her college semester abroad program in a small coastal village in Ireland. An unexpected romance emerges as the heartthrob Beckett leads the uptight Finley on an adventurous reawakening, and she emboldens him to take charge of his future, until the pressures of his stardom get in the way.
What you should know: Nominated at the MovieGuide Awards for the “Most Spiritually Uplifting Screenplay”.
Where to watch: In theaters
Riders of Justice
Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Lars Brygmann
Writer: Nikolaj Arcel, Anders Thomas Jensen
Director: Anders Thomas Jensen
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Plot: Recently-deployed Markus is forced to return home to care for his teenage daughter after his wife is killed in a tragic train accident. But when a survivor of the wrecked train surfaces claiming foul play, Markus begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission to find those responsible.
What you should know: It’s in Danish
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD on May 21st
The Perfect Candidate
Stars: Mila Al Zahrani, Dae Al Hilali, Nora Al Awad, Khalid Abdulraheem
Writer: Haifaa Al-Mansour, Brad Niemann
Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour
Genre: Drama
Plot: A determined young Saudi doctor's surprise run for office in the local city elections sweeps up her family and community as they struggle to accept their town's first female candidate.
What you should know: It’s in Arabic and English.
Where to watch: In select theaters and virtual cinemas
There is No Evil
Stars: Baran Rasoulof, Zhila Shahi, Mohammad Seddighimehr, Mohammad Valizadegan
Writer/Director: Mohammad Rasoulof
Genre: Action, Drama
Plot: A film in four chapters, each telling a different story related to the death penalty in contemporary Iran. The first story concerns a family man who, as we come to see, pays a grave moral price for his comfortable middle-class life. The second and third chapters focus on conscripted soldiers - in Iran, it is often these men who are forced to perform executions - and both segments explore the tension and turmoil that can come with such harsh coercion. The final section involves a family secret, which brings the film to its powerful conclusion.
What you should know: Won the Golden Bear at Berlinale 2020, the festival’s highest honor.
Where to watch: In theaters and virtual cinemas
More New Releases
Those Who Wish Me Dead (Trailer) from Warner Bros
Georgetown (Trailer) from Paramount
High Ground (Trailer)
Us Kids (Trailer)
Radhe (Trailer)
The Man in the Hat (Trailer)
RK/RKAY (Trailer)
Rockfield (Trailer)
Punk the Capital (Trailer)
Los Hermanos/The Brothers (Trailer)
The Strange House (Trailer)
When Today Ends (Trailer)
New on Streaming
Saint Maud (Trailer) on Hulu
MLK/FBI (Trailer) on Hulu
The Personal History of David Copperfield (Trailer) on HBO Max
Source 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
What have you been watching lately, ONTD?