Indie Film Release Guide: February 12th [An ONTD Original]
It’s a pretty big weekend for new film releases, both streaming and in theaters. But because it’s still a pandemic out there, the films that are exclusively in theaters like The World to Come and French Exit are in the overflow list at the bottom of the post, and will be profiled here in more detail once they hit streaming and VOD.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney - unless otherwise noted. 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: February 5th, January 29th, and January 22nd.
Saint Maud
Click to viewStars: Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Knight, Lily Frazer
Writer/Director: Rose Glass
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Plot: Follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.
What you should know: Premiered at TIFF 2019 and originally scheduled for release last March, but pushed back until now due to the pangea.
Where to stream: Epix Now (there is an inexpensive trial)
Minari
Stars: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho
Writer/Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Genre: Drama
Plot: A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas.
What you should know: Won the Dramatic Audience Award and Grand Jury Prizes at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Where to stream: A24 screening room (many dates are already sold out)
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
Stars: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr.
Writer: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time - ever.
What you should know: Director Josh Greenbaum has previously worked on TV shows like Fresh Off the Boat, Single Parents and New Girl.
Where to stream: Available VOD
Dead Pigs
Stars: Zazie Beetz, Mason Lee, Meng Li, Archibald C. McCall IV
Writer/Director: Cathy Yan
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A bumbling pig farmer, a feisty salon owner, a sensitive busboy, an expat architect and a disenchanted rich girl converge and collide as thousands of dead pigs float down the river towards a rapidly-modernizing Shanghai.
What you should know: Originally premiering at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival followed by a release in China, this film is finally available for US audiences.
Where to stream: MUBI (there is a free trial available)
Lapsis
Stars: Dean Imperial, Madeline Wise, Babe Howard, Arliss Howard
Writer/Director: Noah Hutton
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Plot: Struggling to support himself and his ailing younger brother, delivery man Ray takes a strange job in a strange new realm of the gig economy.
What you should know: Nominated for the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award at SXSW 2020.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas, and available VOD
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
Stars: Kathryn Newton, Kyle Allen, Jermaine Harris, Anna Mikami
Writer: Lev Grossman
Director: Ian Samuels
Genre: Fantasy
Plot: Two teens who live the same day repeatedly, enabling them to create the titular map.
What you should know: Based on the short story of the same name by screenwriter Lev Grossman.
Where to stream: Amazon
Cowboys
Stars: Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell, Sasha Knight, Anne Dowd
Writer/Director: Anna Kerrigan
Genre: Drama
Plot: A troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife's refusal to let their son live as his authentic self.
What you should know: This is director Anna Kerrigan’s first feature film since 2010’s Five Days Gone.
Where to watch: Select theaters, and available VOD
Young Hearts
Stars: Anjini Taneja Azhar, Quinn Liebling, Alex Jarmon, Ayla Carda
Writer: Sarah Sherman
Director: Sarah Sherman, Zachary Ray Sherman
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Two high schoolers fall into first love, only to discover life is a lot more complicated than they could ever imagine.
What you should know: Produced by Mark and Jay Duplass.
Where to watch: In theaters, virtual cinemas, and available VOD
Twilight’s Kiss
Stars: Tai-Bo, Ben Yuen, Patra Au, Lo Chun Yip
Writer/Director: Ray Yeung
Genre: Drama, LGBT
Plot: One day Pak, 70, a closeted taxi driver who refuses to retire, meets Hoi, 65, a closeted retired single father, in a park.
What you should know: It’s in Cantonese.
Where to watch: Virtual cinemas
Major Studio Releases
Judas and the Black Messiah
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback
Writer: Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenneth Lucas, Keith Lucas
Director: Shaka King
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Plot: The story of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, and his fateful betrayal by FBI informant William O'Neal.
What you should know: Daniel Kaluuya has been nominated for both a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for his role in this film.
Where to watch: Select theaters, HBO Max
Breaking News in Yuba County
Stars: Mila Kunis, Juliette Lewis, Allison Janney, Awkwafina
Writer: Amanda Idoko
Director: Tate Taylor
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Plot: A woman takes advantage of her growing celebrity status when the police and the public think her dead husband is just missing.
What you should know: This is screenwriter Amanda Idoko’s first feature film.
Where to stream: In theaters, and available VOD
Only in Theaters
French Exit (Trailer)
Land (Trailer)
The World to Come (Trailer)
The Mauritanian (Trailer)
More New Releases
music (Trailer)
RUTH - Justice Ginsberg in Her Own Words (Trailer)
Show Me What You Got (Trailer)
To All the Boys: Always and Forever (Trailer) on Netflix
There is No “I” in Threesome (Trailer) on HBO Max
New to Streaming
Middle of Nowhere (2012) (Trailer) on Netflix
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?