Indie Film Release Guide: May 1st [An ONTD Original]

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March and April may have been the two longest months on record, but we've finally entered the May release calendar. Of course, this will be another month full of films going direct to video or virtual cinema, but hey - at least we're getting new movies! Below are nine brand new films, along with a live theater proshot getting its free streaming debut.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have already come to VOD: April 24th, April 17th, and April 10th.

The Half of It

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Stars: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Enrique Murciano, Becky Ann Baker
Writer/Director: Alice Wu
Genre: Comedy, Romance, LGBT
Plot: When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.
What you should know: This is writer/director Alice Wu’s first film since her 2004 debut Saving Face.
Streams on: Netflix



The Wretched

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Stars: John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Zarah Mahler
Writer/Director: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce
Genre: Horror
Plot: Following his parents’ separation, a rebellious teenage boy, Ben, is sent to live with his father for the summer. Ben’s problems grow increasingly disturbing when he makes a chilling discovery about the family renting the house next door.
Streams on: Available VOD.

A Secret Love

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Director: Chris Bolan
Genre: Documentary, LGBT
Storyline: Falling in love in 1947, two women -- Pat Henschel and pro baseball player Terry Donahue -- begin a 65-year journey of love and overcoming prejudice.
What you should know: This is actor/director Chris Bolan’s first feature film.
Streams on: Netflix

Deerskin

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Stars: Jean Dujardin, Adèle Haenel, Albert Delpy, Panayotis Pascot
Writer/Director: Quentin Dupieux
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Plot: A man's obsession with his designer deerskin jacket causes him to blow his life savings and turn to crime.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Streams on: Virtual cinemas, such as Film at Lincoln Center in NYC, and available VOD.

The Infiltrators

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Stars: Maynor Alvarado, Manuel Uriza, Roman Arabia, Scott Broderick
Writer: Cristina Ibarra, Alex Rivera, Aldo Velasco
Director: Cristina Ibarra, Alex Rivera
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Plot: A rag-tag group of undocumented youth - Dreamers - deliberately get detained by Border Patrol in order to infiltrate a shadowy, for-profit detention center.
What you should know: The film mixes documentary footage alongside reenactments of the parts they were not able to film inside the detention centers.
Streams on: Virtual cinemas, such as Cinespeak in Philadelphia, PA

Blood Quantum

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Stars: Michael Greyeyes, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Forrest Goodluck, Kiowa Gordon
Writer/Director: Jeff Barnaby
Genre: Horror
Plot: The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi'gMaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague.
What you should know: Played at TIFF’s Midnight Madness 2019.
Streams on: Shudder

Bull

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Stars: Rob Morgan, Amber Havard, Yolonda Ross, Sara Allbright
Writer: Johnny McAllister, Annie Silverstein
Director: Annie Silverstein
Genre: Drama
Plot: In a near-abandoned subdivision west of Houston, a wayward teen runs headlong into her equally willful and unforgiving neighbor, an aging bullfighter who's seen his best days in the arena; it's a collision that will change them both.
What you should know: Played at Cannes 2019, and was selected for SXSW 2020.
Streams on: Your local virtual cinema, such as Laemmle in Los Angeles, and available VOD.

Tammy’s Always Dying

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Stars: Felicity Huffman, Anastasia Phillips, Clark Johnson, Lauren Holly
Writer: Joanne Sarazen
Director: Amy Jo Johnson
Genre: Drama
Plot: A woman comes to a crossroad when her perpetually troubled mother becomes terminally ill.
What you should know: You may know director Amy Jo Johnson as the Pink Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, or Julie from Felicity.
Streams on: Available VOD.

Liberté

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Stars: Helmut Berger, Marc Susini, Iliana Zabeth, Laura Poulvet
Writer/Director: Albert Serra
Genre: History, Drama
Plot: Madame de Dumeval, the Duke de Tesis and the Duke de Wand, libertines expelled from the court of Louis XVI, seek the support of the Duc de Walchen, German seducer and freethinker, lonely in a country where hypocrisy and false virtue reign.
What you should know: Won the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize at Cannes 2019, and inspired a lot of walkouts at its premiere.
Streams on: Virtual cinema at Lincoln Center.

National Theater Live: Frankenstein (2011)

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Stars: Jonny Lee Miller, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andreea Paduraru, John Killoran
Writer: Nick Dear, adapted from Mary Shelley
Director: Danny Boyle
Genre: Drama
Plot: Created by Victor Frankenstein, the one known only as the creature sets out to discover the world and the meaning of life.
What you should know: This is a professionally filmed version of the play produced by the National Theatre in London. There are two versions - one in which Jonny Lee Miller plays the Creature and Benedict Cumberbatch plays Victor Frankenstein, and the other in which they switch roles. One is already available to view, and both will be available to view starting tomorrow.
Streams on: National Theatre's Youtube page

New to Digital

The Photograph (Trailer)

Beanpole (Trailer)

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? If you're looking into streaming via virtual cinema, check your local indie theater's site to see if they are participating!