Indie Film Release Guide: October 27th [An ONTD Original]
It’s the last weekend before Halloween, and the last big spooky season release is Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s available to watch in theaters, and is also streaming on Peacock, if you’re not in the mood to leave the comfort of your own home. Other releases this weekend are a bit more scattershot, with indies like Priscilla and The Holdovers opening in select cities and expanding in November.
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: October 20th, October 13th, and October 6th.
Priscilla
Click to viewStars: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen, Dagmara Dominczyk
Writer: Sofia Coppola, Sandra Harmon
Director: Sofia Coppola
Genre: Drama, Music
Plot: When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend.
What you should know: Based on the autobiography by Priscilla Presley.
Where to watch: In select theaters; expands November 3rd
The Holdovers
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston
Writer: David Hemingson
Director: Alexander Payne
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no to go.
What you should know: The film was shot entirely in practical locations rather than on sound stages.
Where to watch: In select theaters; expands November 10th
The Killer
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard
Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker, Alexis Nolent, Luc Jacamon
Director: David Fincher
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Plot: After a fateful near-miss, an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.
What you should know: Based on a graphic novel of the same name.
Where to watch: In select theaters; on Netflix November 10th
Freelance
Stars: John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater
Writer: Jacob Lentz
Director: Pierre Morel
Genre: Action, Comedy
Plot: An ex-special forces operative takes a job to provide security for a journalist as she interviews a dictator, but, a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, they are forced to escape into the jungle where they must survive.
What you should know: Director Pierre Morel was also responsible for 2008’s Taken.
Where to watch: In theaters
Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow
Stars: Ronnie Chieng, Emily Kleimo, Jennifer Childs Greer, Iain Batchelor
Writer: Rocco Pucillo
Director: Julio Soto Gurpide
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Plot: Inspector Sun boards a seemingly normal plane for a much-needed vacation, but when an enigmatic millionaire receives a threat on his life, Sun is back on the case. Trapped in a web of lies, Sun must find the culprit before it's too late.
What you should know: Based on an award-winning screenplay.
Where to watch: In theaters
Suitable Flesh
Stars: Heather Graham, Judah Lewis, Bruce Davison, Johnathon Schaech
Writer: Dennis Paoli
Director: Joe Lynch
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Plot: A psychiatrist becomes obsessed with one of her young patients, who she later discovers is linked to an ancient curse.
What you should know: Based on the story “The Thing on the Doorstep” by H.P. Lovecraft.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Holy Frit
Writer: Justin S. Monroe, Ryan M. Fritzsche, Gillian Fritzsche
Director: Justin S. Monroe
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: In this three-year race against time, Tim Carey, a talented, yet unknown L.A. artist, bluffs his way into winning the commission to create the largest stained-glass window of its kind. The problem is, he doesn't know how to make it. After a desperate search, he finds someone who might have the answer - a famous glass maestro, named, Narcissus Quagliata.
What you should know: Winner of the Audience Award at the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters
Yellow Door: 90s Lo-Fi Film Club
Director: Lee Hyuk-rae
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: This intimate documentary explores a bygone era of cinematic passion and the emergence of young film enthusiasts in South Korea, including Bong Joon Ho.
What you should know: It’s in Korean.
Where to watch: Netflix
Deep Rising
Director: Matthieu Rytz
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: The fate of the planet's last untouched wilderness, the deep ocean, is under threat as a secretive organization is about to allow massive extraction of seabed metals to address the world's energy crisis.
What you should know: Jason Momoa narrates.
Where to watch: In theaters
Fingernails
Stars: Jeremy Allen White, Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, Luke Wilson
Writer: Christos Nikou, Stavros Raptis, Sam Steiner
Director: Christos Nikou
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Plot: Anna and Ryan have found true love, and it's proven by a controversial new technology. There's just one problem, as Anna still isn't sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute and meets Amir.
What you should know: Carey Mulligan was initially cast in the part played by Jessie Buckley.
Where to watch: In select theaters; available on Apple TV+ November 3rd
More New Releases
Five Nights at Freddy’s (Trailer) from Universal (also available on Peacock)
Beyond Utopia (Trailer)
Boudica: Queen of War (Trailer)
Wakiki (Trailer)
Four Daughters (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Pain Hustlers (Trailer) on Netflix
Sister Death (Trailer) on Netflix
Studio 666 (Trailer) on Amazon Prime
Milli Vanilli (Trailer) on Paramount+
Master Gardener (Trailer) on Hulu
Susie Searches (Trailer) on Hulu
FYI: Mean Girls (Trailer) is currently streaming on Paramount+
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?