Indie Film Release Guide: January 15th [An ONTD Original]

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Two of this weekend’s buzziest debuts are both films that were released in theaters at Christmas and are now available via streaming, so I’ve included them in the roundup for a second time. But if you're not interested in either of those, or have already seen them, there are plenty of brand new releases available this week, too.

The films listed below 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: January 8th, January 1st, and December 23rd.

MLK/FBI

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Writer: Benjamin Hedin, Laura Tomaselli
Director: Sam Pollard
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Based on newly declassified files, Sam Pollard's resonant film explores the US government's surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr.
What you should know: The release date was picked with a purpose - Friday is Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, and MLK Day is this coming Monday.
Where to stream: In theaters and available VOD



Promising Young Woman

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Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Laverne Cox
Writer/Director: Emerald Fennell
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.
What you should know: Those with sensitivity to violence and/or sexual violence should exercise caution and do some reading about the film before watching it.
Where to stream: In theaters and available VOD

One Night in Miami

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Stars: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom, Jr.
Writer: Kemp Powers, adapting his own play
Director: Regina King
Genre: Drama
Plot: A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.
What you should know: Came in second for the People’s Choice Award at TIFF 2020.
Where to stream: In theaters and available via Amazon Prime

Locked Down

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Stars: Anne Hathaway, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lucy Boynton, Bobby Schofield
Writer: Steven Knight
Director: Doug Liman
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Romance
Plot: A couple attempts a high-risk, high-stakes jewelry heist at a department store.
What you should know: Shot in 18 days in London during the pandemic, so the extras are all civilians and shoppers.
Where to stream: HBO Max

Don’t Tell a Soul

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Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Jack Dylan Grazer, Mena Suvari, Rainn Wilson
Writer/Director: Alex McAulay
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: Two thieving teenage brothers, stealing money to help their sick mom, match wits with a troubled security guard stuck at the bottom of a forgotten well.
What you should know: Writer/director Alex McAulay last wrote the 2017 indie dramedy Flower.
Where to stream: In theaters, and available VOD

Bloody Hell

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Stars: Ben O'Toole, Meg Fraser, Caroline Craig, Matthew Sunderland
Writer: Robert Benjamin
Director: Alister Grierson
Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery
Plot: A man with a mysterious past flees the country to escape his own personal hell - only to arrive somewhere much, much worse.
What you should know: Director Alister Grierson last directed 2018’s Tiger.
Where to stream: In theaters, and available VOD

Acasa, My Home

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Director: Radu Ciorniciuc
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: In the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, nine children and their parents lived in perfect harmony with nature for 20 years until they are chased out and forced to adapt to life in the big city.
What you should know: Gathered a lot of nominations and wins on the 2020 film festival circuit.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas

Outside the Wire

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Stars: Anthony Mackie, Emily Beecham, Pilou Asbæk, Damson Idris
Writer: Rowan Athale, Rob Yescombe
Director: Mikael Håfström
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Plot: In the near future, a drone pilot sent into a war zone finds himself paired with a top-secret android officer on a mission to stop a nuclear attack.
What you should know: The film was shot in Hungary.
Where to stream: Netflix

Some Kind of Heaven

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Director: Lance Oppenheim
Genre: Documentary
Plot: Behind the gates of a palm tree-lined fantasyland, four residents of America's largest retirement community, The Villages, FL, strive to find solace and meaning.
What you should know: If you were wondering “where have I heard of this place before?”, it is one of the places where Tr*mp led a huge rally last year.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas

Hunted

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Stars: Christian Bronchart, Lucie Debay, Ciaran O'Brien, Jean-Mathias Pondant
Writer: Vincent Paronnaud, Léa Pernollet, David H. Pickering, Stephen Shields
Director: Vincent Paronnaud
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: A young woman is trapped in a game of cat and mouse after she meets a charming man at a nightclub.
What you should know: Writer/director Vincent Paronnaud also wrote and directed Persepolis.
Where to stream: Shudder

New to Digital

The Marksman (Trailer)
The Bid (Trailer)
My Little Sister (Trailer)
Butchers (Trailer)

New to Streaming

Radium Girls (Trailer) on Netflix, January 16th
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (Trailer) on Hulu
No Escape (Trailer) on Hulu, January 17th

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?