Indie Film Release Guide: March 18th [An ONTD Original]
The film release cadence is starting to pick up this weekend, after what has been an exceedingly slow winter for new films. The only major studio release is Sandra Oh’s Umma from Sony, but there are a bunch of indie releases, as well as several streaming films like the long-anticipated BenAna flick Deep Water.
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: March 11th, March 4th, and February 25th.
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Click to viewStars: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Scott Mescudi, Brittany Snow
Writer/Director: Ti West
Genre: Horror
Plot: In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives.
What you should know: The film premiered at 2022’s SXSW, where writer/director Ti West revealed he’d already shot a prequel.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Outfit
Stars: Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O’Brien, Johnny Flynn
Writer: Johnathan McClain, Graham Moore
Director: Graham Moore
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot: An expert tailor must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.
What you should know: The Chicago mob is known as “The Outfit”.
Where to watch: In theaters
Master
Stars: Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, Amber Gray, Talia Ryder
Writer/Director: Mariama Diallo
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Plot: Two African American women begin to share disturbing experiences at a predominantly white college in New England.
What you should know: This is writer/director Mariama Diallo’s first feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters, and streaming on Amazon Prime
Deep Water
Stars: Ana de Armas, Ben Affleck, Tracy Letts, Grace Jenkins
Writer: Zach Helm, Sam Levinson
Director: Adrian Lyne
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Plot: A well-to-do husband who allows his wife to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of her lovers.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith
Where to watch: Hulu
Windfall
Stars: Jason Segal, Lily Collins, Jesse Plemons, Omar Levya
Writer: Charlie McDowell, Jason Segal, Justin Lader, Andrew Kevin Walker
Director: Charlie McDowell
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A man breaks into a tech billionaire's empty vacation home, but things go sideways when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last-minute getaway.
What you should know: Director Charlie McDowell is married to star Lily Collins.
Where to watch: Netflix
Alice
Stars: Keke Palmer, Common, Johnny Lee Miller, Gaius Charles
Writer/Director: Krystin Ver Linden
Genre: Drama
Plot: A slave in the antebellum South escapes her secluded plantation only to discover a shocking reality that lies beyond the tree line.
What you should know: This is writer/director Krystin Ver Linden’s debut feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters
Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie
Stars: Chinatsu Akasaki, Aya Endô Kana Hanazawa, Show Hayami
Writer: Gege Akutami
Director: Seong-Hu Park
Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Plot: Yuta Okkotsu, a high schooler who gains control of an extremely powerful Cursed Spirit and gets enrolled in the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School by Jujutsu Sorcerers to help him control his power and keep an eye on him.
What you should know: A prequel to the 2020 series Jujutsu Kaisen.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Bunker Game
Stars: Gaia Weiss, Lorenzo Richelmy, Mark Ryder, Tudor Istodor
Writer: Manuela Cacciamani, Francesca Forristal, Davide Orsini
Director: Roberto Zazzara
Genre: Horror
Plot: After several mysterious accidents, A Live Action Role Playing game is interrupted and the players leave the bunker while the staff remains behind to investigate the disappearance of Greg, the mastermind of the game.
What you should know: The film was shot in Italy.
Where to watch: Shudder
The Hater
Stars: Joey Ally, Bruce Dern, Meredith Hagner, D'Angelo Lacy
Writer/Director: Joey Ally
Genre: Comedy
Plot: After losing her job on a U.S. Senate campaign, a liberal environmentalist returns to her conservative Texas hometown to regroup. Upon learning her childhood nemesis is running for state legislature, she creates an elaborate scheme to go undercover as his opponent on the Republican ticket with the ultimate goal of forcing a Democratic victory.
What you should know: This is actor, writer and director Joey Ally's feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Torch
Director: Jim Farrell
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: At 83, Chicago legend Buddy Guy remains the standard bearer for the blues, an icon determined to see the art form live on long after he's gone. Enter guitar phenom Quinn Sullivan, who has been mentored by Guy since he was a kid. The film charts the guidance Guy himself received from the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf while observing Guy passing his wisdom to the next generation.
What you should know: This is Jim Farrell’s directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
More New Releases
Umma (Trailer) from Sony
Panama (Trailer)
Vive L’Amour (Trailer) Rerelease (1994)
Ahed’s Knee (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Trailer)
Halloween Kills (Trailer) on HBO
Violet (Trailer) on Showtime
Black Crab (Trailer) on Netflix
Rescued by Ruby (Trailer) on Netflix
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?