Indie Film Release Guide: December 2nd [An ONTD Original]
This weekend’s big studio release is Universal’s Violent Night, a holiday action comedy starring David Harbour as Santa, going up against the third weekend of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. There are also a bunch of smaller releases, like Spoiler Alert from Focus Features, as well as lesser-seen holdovers from the past few weeks like Devotion, The Fabelmans, She Said, Bones and All and The Inspection.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures.. 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: November 24th, November 18th, and November 11th.
The Eternal Daughter
Click to viewStars: Tilda Swinton, Carly-Sophia Davies, Zinnia Davies-Cooke, Joseph Mydell
Writer/Director: Joanna Hogg
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Plot: A middle-aged daughter and her elderly mother must confront long-buried secrets when they return to their former family home, a once-grand manor that has become a nearly vacant hotel brimming with mystery.
What you should know: Nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2022 Venice Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters
Spoiler Alert
Stars: Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, Sally Field, Josh Pais
Writer: David Marshall Grant, Dan Savage
Director: Michael Showalter
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: The story of Michael Ausiello and Kit Cowan's relationship that takes a tragic turn when Cowan is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
What you should know: Based on the best-selling memoir by entertainment journalist Michael Ausiello.
Where to watch: In theaters
Emancipation
Stars: Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor
Writer: Bill Collage
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: A runaway slave forges through the swamps of Louisiana on a tortuous journey to escape plantation owners that nearly killed him.
What you should know: Antoine Fuqua’s last film was 2021’s The Guilty.
Where to watch: In theaters; streaming on Apple TV+ December 9th
Close
Stars: Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Émilie Dequenne, Léa Drucker
Writer: Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens
Director: Lukas Dhont
Genre: Drama
Plot: The intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys Leo and Remi suddenly gets disrupted. Struggling to understand what has happened, Léo approaches Sophie, Rémi's mother.
What you should know: Director Lukas Dhont met his leading actor Eden Dambrine on a train ride.
Where to watch: In select NYC theaters
Darby and the Dead
Stars: Riele Downs, Auli'i Cravalho, Chosen Jacobs, Asher Angel
Writer: Becca Greene
Director: Silas Howard
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Plot: Darby Harper is granted the ability to see ghosts after suffering a near death experience in her childhood. In her spare time, he runs a side business counseling local spirits.
What you should know: Based on a story by Wenonah Wilms.
Where to watch: Hulu
Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power
Writer: Dema Paxton Fofang
Director: Geeta Gandbhir, Sam Pollard
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Black residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, face violence and discrimination as they fight against disenfranchisement at the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
What you should know: Based on the writings of Vann R. Newkirk II.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
”Sr.”
Director: Chris Smith
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Follow the tender but appropriately irreverent account of the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the fearless and visionary American director who set the standard for countercultural comedy in the 1960s and 1970s.
What you should know: Robert Downey Sr.’s last directorial effort was 2005’s Rittenhouse Square.
Where to watch: Netflix
Christmas with the Campbells
Stars: Brittany Snow, Justin Long, Alex Moffatt, Julia Duffy
Writer: Vince Vaughn, Dan Lagana, Barbara Kymlicka
Director: Clare Niederpruem
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: When Jesse gets dumped right before the holidays by her boyfriend Shawn, his parents convince her to still spend Christmas with them, and Shawn’s handsome cousin, while Shawn is away.
What you should know: Director Clare Niederpruem’s career is mainly holiday related films.
Where to watch: In theaters, and on AMC+.
Last Film Show
Stars: Bhavin Rabari, Bhavesh Shrimali, Richa Meena, Dipen Raval
Writer/Director: Pan Nalin
Genre: Drama
Plot: When the magic of movies conquers nine-year-old Samay's heart, he moves heaven and Earth in pursuit of his 35mm dreams. However, he is unaware of heartbreaking times that await him.
What you should know: India's submission to the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards.
Where to watch: In theaters
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Stars: Luke Evans, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, James Cosmo
Writer: Stephen Donnelly, Leslie Bricusse
Director: Stephen Donnelly
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Plot: A supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's cult Christmas story.
What you should know: Director Stephen Donnelly’s only other directorial effort was 2016’s Monster High: Welcome to Monster High.
Where to watch: Netflix
More New Releases
Violent Night (Trailer) from Universal
Four Samosas (Trailer)
Tantura (Trailer)
Food and Romance (Trailer)
2nd Chance (Trailer)
Nr. 10 (Trailer)
What Remains (Trailer)
Hunt (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Bullet Train (Trailer) on Netflix
American Carnage (Trailer) on Hulu
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (Trailer) on Netflix
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? Seeing anything this weekend?