Indie Film Release Guide: July 2nd [An ONTD Original]
In unusual news, the only two major studio releases of the weekend both hail from the same studio. Universal is putting The Forever Purge into wide release, and also doing a split theatrical and Peacock release with the sequel to the The Boss Baby. Other studios are likely shying away from this weekend because of the forthcoming Black Widow film, which threatens to cut the legs off of everything in its path when it opens next Thursday.
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: June 24th, June 18th, and June 11th.
Zola
Click to viewStars: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, Nicholas Braun
Writer: Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris
Director: Janicza Bravo
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Plot: A stripper named Zola embarks on a wild road trip to Florida.
What you should know: Based on a true story told in a popular twitter thread containing 148 tweets written by Detroit waitress A'Ziah "Zola" King in October 2015. The story quickly went viral, garnering the recognition of people such as Missy Elliott, Solange Knowles and Ava DuVernay. About a month later, Rolling Stone magazine published an article interviewing people involved in the story.
Where to watch: In theaters
Summer of Soul
Director: Questlove
Genre: Documentary, Music
Plot: A feature documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African American music and culture, and promoted Black pride and unity.
What you should know: The Harlem Cultural Festival comprised six concerts that took place between June 29 and August 24, 1969, in Marcus Garvey Park (at the time, Mount Morris Park), and attracted a combined in-person audience of 300,000.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available on Hulu
Fear Street Part 1: 1994
Stars: Maya Hawke, Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr.
Writer: Phil Graziadei, Leigh Janiak, Kyle Killen
Director: Leigh Janiak
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Plot: A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.
What you should know: Based on the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine.
Where to watch: Netflix
Till Death
Stars: Megan Fox, Lili Rich, Callan Mulvey, Eoin Macken
Writer: Jason Carvey
Director: S.K. Dale
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Plot: A woman is left handcuffed to her dead husband as part of a sick revenge plot. Unable to unshackle, she has to survive as two killers arrive to finish her off.
What you should know: This is director S.K. Dale’s first feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
First Date
Stars: Tyson Brown, Shelly Duclos, Jesse Janzen, Nicole Berry
Writer/Director: Manuel Crosby, Darren Knapp
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Plot: After being conned into buying a shady '65 Chrysler, Mike's first date plans with girl-next-door Kelsey implode as he finds himself targeted by criminals, cops, and a crazy cat lady.
What you should know: Nominated for the NEXT Innovator Award at Sundance 2021.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Phantom
Director: Patrick Forbes
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Carlos DeLuna was arrested in 1993 aged 21 for the murder of Wanda Lopez, and protested his innocence until his execution, declaring that it was another Carlos who committed the crime.
What you should know: Director Patrick Forbes has directed over a dozen film and television documentaries.
Where to watch: In theaters and virtual cinemas
The God Committee
Stars: Julia Stiles, Janeane Garafalo, Kelsey Grammar, Colman Domingo
Writer: Austin Stark, Mark St. Germain
Director: Austin Stark
Genre: Thriller
Plot: An organ transplant committee has one hour to decide which of three patients deserves a life-saving heart. Seven years later, the committee members struggle with the consequences of that fateful decision.
What you should know: Based on the play by Mark St. Germain
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
No Sudden Move
Stars: Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Ray Liotta
Writer: Ed Solomon
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Plot: A group of criminals are brought together under mysterious circumstances and have to work together to uncover what's really going on when their simple job goes completely sideways.
What you should know: Steven Soderbergh’s first film since horribly mishandling the 2021 Academy Awards.
Where to watch: HBO Max, available now
Lydia Lunch: The War is Never Over
Director: Beth B
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: A career-spanning documentary retrospective of Lydia Lunch's confrontational, acerbic and always electric artistry. As New York City's preeminent No Wave icon from the late 70's, Lunch has forged a lifetime of music and spoken word performance devoted to the utter right of any woman to indulge, seek pleasure, and to say "fuck you!" as loud as any man.
What you should know: Director Beth B has been working as a director since the late 70’s.
Where to watch: In select theaters and virtual cinemas
The Tomorrow War
Stars: Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin
Writer: Zach Dean
Director: Chris McKay
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Plot: A family man is drafted to fight in a future war where the fate of humanity relies on his ability to confront the past.
What you should know: Sam Richardson has had a good couple of weeks, showing up in this and last week’s Werewolves Within.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Also Opening
The Forever Purge (Trailer) from Universal
The Boss Baby: Family Business (Trailer) from Universal
Long Story Short (Trailer) from Paramount
Scenes from an Empty Church (Trailer)
Kid Candidate (Trailer)
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?