Indie Film Release Guide: October 30th [An ONTD Original]
This year has that rare Halloween that falls on a Saturday, absolutely perfect for a big Halloween party… and here we are, smack in the middle of a global pandemic. Thankfully, there is more than one way to celebrate the season, and one of the easiest alternatives is watching some scary movies. This week’s indie roundup has several horror & thriller films, some of which are in theaters and some of which are streaming.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. All films listed will be available at their respective sources on Friday unless otherwise noted. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have already come to VOD: October 23rd, October 16th, and October 9th.
The Craft: Legacy
Click to viewStars: Cailee Spaeny, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, Zoey Luna
Writer: Zoe Lister-Jones, Peter Filardi
Director: Zoe Lister-Jones
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Plot: An eclectic foursome of aspiring teenage witches get more than they bargained for as they lean into their newfound powers.
What you should know: A sequel to the original 1996 film starring Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Rachel True, and Neve Campbell.
Where to stream: Available now via VOD
His House
Stars: Bradley Banton, Gamba Cole, Matt Smith, Mevis Birungi
Writer: Felicity Evans, Toby Venables, Remi Weekes
Director: Remi Weekes
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Plot: A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.
What you should know: Won the NHK Award, designed to support emerging international filmmakers, at Sundance 2018.
Where to stream: Netflix
Come Play
Stars: Azhy Robertson, Gillian Jacobs, John Gallagher Jr., Winslow Fegely
Writer/Director: Jacob Chase
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Plot: Desperate for a friend, Oliver seeks solace and refuge in his ever-present cell phone and tablet. When a mysterious creature uses Oliver’s devices against him to break into our world, Oliver’s parents must fight to save their son from the monster beyond the screen.
What you should know: Based on a 2017 short film.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Donut King
Director: Alice Gu
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Ted Ngoy's story is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption. It’s the rags to riches story of a refugee escaping Cambodia, arriving in America in 1975 and building an unlikely multi-million-dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. By 1979 he was living the American Dream. But, in life, great rise can come with great falls.
What you should know: Los Angeles has almost 1,500 independent donut shops.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available via virtual cinemas
Holidate
Stars: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristen Chenoweth, Frances Fisher
Writer: Tiffany Paulsen
Director: John Whitesell
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: Sloane and Jackson hate being single on holidays where they face constant judgment from their meddling families. So, when these two strangers meet, they pledge to be each other's "holidate" for every festive occasion in the year ahead.
What you should know: Last year’s Plus One had a similar permadate concept, but with weddings rather than holidays.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Soul of America
Director: K.D. Davison
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Examines the present-day, fraught political reality by exploring historical challenges of the past.
What you should know: Based on the bestselling book by Jon Meacham.
Where to stream: HBO Max
Us Kids
Director: Kim A. Snyder
Genre: Documentary
Plot: Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida speak out against the national gun-violence epidemic after a mass shooting at their school kills 17 people.
What you should know: Nominated for the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2020.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
Madre
Stars: Marta Nieto, Jules Porier, Alex Brendemühl, Anne Consigny
Writer: Isabel Peña, Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Director: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: Ten years have passed since Elena's son, then six years old, has disappeared. Today Elena lives and works at a seaside restaurant until she meets a teenager who reminds her of her missing son.
What you should know: It’s in Spanish & French.
Where to watch: In theaters, in virtual cinemas, and available VOD
Assholes: A Theory
Director: John Walker
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: This lively philosophical investigation into the rise of asshole behaviour across the world asks: What does it mean to be an asshole, and more importantly, how do we stop their proliferation?
What you should know: Based on the book by Aaron James.
Where to watch: In theaters
The True Adventures of Wolfboy
Stars: Jaeden Martell, Sophia Giannamore, Chris Messina, Chloë Sevigny
Writer: Olivia Dufault
Director: Martin Krejcí
Genre: Drama
Plot: A coming of age journey about a boy with an illness that causes hair growth over the entirety of his face and body. After a disastrous carnival experience, he goes in search of his mother who abandoned him at birth. In the wilds of New Jersey he finds fast friends, but is pursued by an enigmatic carnival owner, and a police officer enlisted by his father.
What you should know: Jaeden Martell is the second child from IT that Chloë Sevigny has played mother to on screen, after Jack Dylan Grazer.
Where to stream: Available VOD
More New Releases
Spell (Trailer)
Fire Will Come (Trailer)
City Hall (Trailer)
Burning Ojai: Our Fire Story (Trailer)
Alone With Her Dreams (Trailer)
New on Streaming
John Lewis: Good Trouble (Trailer) on HBO
Bad Therapy (Trailer) on Hulu
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Happy (almost) Halloween! What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?