Indie Film Release Guide: December 13th [An ONTD Original]
This weekend brings us a couple of underwhelming big studio films in Kraven the Hunter and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim alongside a bunch of indies with somewhat spotty availability. Nickel Boys, one of the most highly praised indie films of the year, opens in NYC this weekend, expanding over the next few weeks. Several other films, like The Last Showgirl and The Colors Within, are only open for an awards-qualifying run this week before opening wider in January. So if you’re not finding most of these films at your local theater, there’s probably a reason for that, and you will likely be seeing some repeats in this post in the coming weeks.
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: December 6th, November 28th, and November 22nd.
Nickel Boys
Click to viewStars: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Ethan Cole Sharp
Writer: RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes
Director: RaMell Ross
Genre: Drama
Plot: Chronicles the powerful friendship between two young African American men navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Colson Whitehead.
Where to watch: In select NYC theaters; expands slowly over the next month
The Last Showgirl
Stars: Pamela Anderson, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Dave Bautista
Writer: Kate Gersten
Director: Gia Coppola
Genre: Drama
Plot: A seasoned showgirl must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.
What you should know: Shot in 18 days.
Where to watch: In select theaters; will release on January 10th
Carry-On
Stars: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler
Writer: T.J. Fixman, Michael Green
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: A mysterious traveler blackmails a young TSA agent into letting a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.
What you should know: Filmed in New Orleans.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Colors Within
Stars: Sayu Suzukawa, Akari Takaishi, Taisei Kido, Yasuko
Writer: Reiko Yoshida
Director: Naoko Yamada
Genre: Anime, Drama, Music
Plot: A girl who can see colors in people's hearts joins a band with two other people.
What you should know: Won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Animated Film at the 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival.
Where to watch: In select theaters; will release on January 24th
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem
Stars: Romanthony, Thomas Bangalter
Writer: Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, Cédric Hervet
Director: Daisuke Nishio, Hirotoshi Rissen, Kazuhisa Takenouchi, Leiji Matsumoto
Genre: Anime, Animation, Adventure, Music, Sci-Fi
Plot: Four talented alien musicians are kidnapped by a record producer who disguises them as humans and has them reprogrammed to forget their real identities and play soulless corporate pop as The Crescendolls.
What you should know: Originally released in 2003, there are numerous complaints online about AI being used to upscale an older digital version of the film for this release.
Where to watch: In theaters
Elton John: Never Too Late
Director: R.J. Cutler, David Furnish
Genre: Documentary, Music
Storyline: It showcases a never-before-seen concert footage of him over the past 50 years, as well as hand-written journals and present-day footage of him and his family.
What you should know: Co-director David Furnish is the husband of Elton John.
Where to watch: Disney+
Young Werther
Stars: Douglas Booth, Alison Pill, Iris Apatow, Patrick J. Adams
Writer: José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Director: José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: Werther, carefree and charming young writer, stumbles across the love of his life only to find that she's engaged. Against his best friend urgings, Werther turns his world upside down in a misguided and hilarious quest to win her heart.
What you should know: Nominated for an editing award at the Directors Guild of Canada Craft Awards.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Man in the White Van
Stars: Madison Wolfe, Skai Jackson, Ali Larter, Sean Astin
Writer: Sharon Y. Cobb, Warren Skeels
Director: Warren Skeels
Genre: Thriller
Plot: In a quaint, family town in Florida, 1974, an ominous white van stalks a young girl, and her parents' disbelief leads to a terrifying Halloween nightmare.
What you should know:
Where to watch: In theaters
Theater of Thought
Writer/Director: Werner Herzog
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Herzog casts his gaze on the human brain, looking for clues as to why a piece of tissue can produce deep thoughts and feelings, while also considering the philosophical, ethical and social implications.
What you should know: Imagine Paul F. Tompkins narrating this trailer as Werner Herzog, and realize that it would sound exactly the same.
Where to watch: In select theaters
Dirty Angels
Stars: Eva Green, Maria Bakalova, Ruby Rose, Reza Brojerdi
Writer: Martin Campbell, Alissa Sullivan Haggis, Jonas McCord
Director: Martin Campbell
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Plot: Centers on a group of female soldiers who disguise themselves as medics to rescue a group of teenagers caught between ISIS and the forces of the Taliban.
What you should know: Director Martin Campbell previously directed Casino Royale, also starring Eva Green.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
More New Releases
Kraven the Hunter (Trailer) from Columbia
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Trailer) from Warner Bros
September 5 (Trailer) from Paramount
New to Streaming
Maria (Trailer) on Netflix
Nature of the Crime (Trailer) on Max
The Bikeriders (Trailer) on Amazon
Beau is Afraid (Trailer) on Amazon
Sugarcane (Trailer) on Hulu
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?