Indie Film Release Guide: February 25th [An ONTD Original]
After a couple of weeks with multiple big studio releases, this week is slightly less eventful. MGM’s Cyrano, which picked up an Oscar nomination for Costume Design, is finally making its theatrical debut, but that’s the biggest release of the weekend, so Tom Holland’s box office reign should continue with ease.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Studios, 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: February 18th, February 11th, and February 4th.
Studio 666
Click to viewStars: Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Pat Smear, Jenna Ortega
Writer: Dave Grohl, Jeff Buhler, Rebecca Hughes
Director: BJ McDonnell
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Music
Plot: Legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album.
What you should know: Director BJ McDonnell is responsible for several Slayer music videos.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Burning Sea
Stars: Kristine Kujath Thorp, Herik Bjelland, Rolf Kristian Larsen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen
Writer: Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, Lars Gudmestad
Director: John Andreas Andersen
Genre: Action
Plot: An oil platform dramatically goes down on the Norwegian coast, and researchers try to find out what happened when they realize this is just the start of something even more serious.
What you should know: It’s in Norwegian.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Homecoming
Stars: Tyler Perry, Brendan O’Carroll, Tamela J. Mann, David Mann
Writer/Director: Tyler Perry
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Madea's back hallelujer. And she's not putting up with any nonsense as family drama erupts at her great-grandson's college graduation celebration.
What you should know: This is the first film in the Madea series to debut on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix
Family Squares
Stars: Elsie Fisher, Judy Greer, Zoe Chao, Billy Magnussen
Writer: Stephanie Laing, Brad Morris
Director: Stephanie Laing
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: The Worth Family has been divided for years. When the matriarch, Grandma Mabel, dies suddenly, the family has to come together. They discover that not only did Grandma Mabel keep some secrets, so did everyone else.
What you should know: This film stars several of our finest working character actresses, including Ann Dowd, Margo Martindale, and June Squibb.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
No Exit
Stars: Havana Rose Liu, Danny Ramirez, David Rysdahl, Dale Dickey
Writer: Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari
Director: Damien Power
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Plot: During a blizzard and stranded at an isolated highway rest stop in the mountains, a college student discovers a kidnapped child hidden in a car belonging to one of the people inside.
What you should know: Based on a novel by Taylor Adams.
Where to watch: Hulu
Servants
Stars: Samuel Skyva, Samuel Polakovic, Vlad Ivanov, Vladimír Strnisko
Writer: Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Marek Lescák, Ivan Ostrochovský
Director: Ivan Ostrochovský
Genre: Drama
Plot: Two students of a theological seminary in totalitarian Czechoslovakia must decide if they'll choose the easier way of collaboration, or if they'll subject themselves to the surveillance of the secret police.
What you should know: It’s in Slovak.
Where to watch: In virtual cinemas, and available VOD.
My Best Part
Stars: Nicolas Maury, Nathalie Baye, Arnaud Valois, Théo Christine
Writer: Maud Ameline, Sophie Fillières, Nicolas Maury
Director: Nicolas Maury
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Jeremie, a young man at his breaking point, leaves Paris to return to his intrusive mother in Limosin.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD.
The Desperate Hour
Stars: Naomi Watts, Colton Gobbo, Sierra Maltby
Writer: Chris Sparling
Director: Phillip Noyce
Genre: Thriller
Plot: A mother desperately races against time to save her child as authorities place her small town on lockdown.
What you should know: Filmed in North Bay, Ontario.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD.
Big Gold Brick
Stars: Oscar Isaac, Megan Fox, Lucy Hale, Andy Garcia
Writer/Director: Brian Petsos
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Plot: Recounts the story of fledgling writer Samuel Liston and his experiences with Floyd Deveraux, the enigmatic middle-aged father of two who enlists Samuel to write his biography. The circumstances that lead up to this arrangement in the first place are quite astonishing-and efforts to write the biography are quickly stymied by ensuing chaos.
What you should know: This is writer/director Brian Petsos’ feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD.
I’ll Find You
Stars: Stellan Skarsgard, Stephen Dorff, Connie Nielsen, Adelaide Clemen
Writer: David S. Ward, Bozenna Intrator, Zbigniew John Raczynski
Director: Martha Coolidge
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Plot: A young couple - Robert, a Catholic opera singer, and Rachel, a Jewish violinist, dream of one day performing together at Carnegie Hall. When they're torn apart by the German invasion of Poland, Robert vows to find Rachel, no matter what. His search takes him on a journey through the heart of Nazi Germany, to a reckoning - that Rachel may be lost to him forever.
What you should know: Filmed in Poland.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD.
More New Releases
Cyrano (Trailer) from MGM
Gasoline Alley (Trailer) from Paramount
Butter (Trailer)
Moon Manor (Trailer)
Let Me Be Me (Trailer)
Desperate Riders (Trailer)
New to Streaming
The French Dispatch (Trailer) on HBO
Restless (Trailer) on Netflix
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?