Indie Film Release Guide: May 28th [An ONTD Original]

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A couple of big studio releases - Paramount’s A Quiet Place 2 and Disney’s Cruella - seem to have put a slight damper on the number of indies releasing this Memorial Day weekend. Even so, there are still several options to highlight for your viewing pleasure.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. 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: May 21st, May 14th, and May 7th.

Plan B

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Stars: Kuhoo Verma, Victoria Moroles, Edi Patterson, Mason Cook
Writer: Joshua Levy, Prathiksha Srinivasan
Director: Natalie Morales
Genre: Comedy
Plot: The best trips are never planned. When a straight-laced high school student has a regrettable first sexual encounter, she and her and slacker best friend have 24 hours to hunt down a Plan B pill in America's heartland.
What you should know: You may know director Natalie Morales from her roles on shows like Parks & Rec and Santa Clarita Diet, but she’s directed on a couple of TV shows, and premiered another feature she directed at SXSW 2021.
Where to watch: Hulu, and select theaters



Port Authority

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Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Leyna Bloom, McCaul Lombardi, Louisa Krause
Writer/Director: Danielle Lessovitz
Genre: Drama
Plot: Kicked out of his home in Pennsylvania, Paul travels to New York City and finds romance with a woman who, unbeknownst to him, is transgender. As they start to learn more about each other, Paul's lies and double life begin to surface.
What you should know: Nominated for the Queer Palm at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Where to watch: Virtual cinemas

Ahead of the Curve

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Director: Jen Rainin, Rivkah Beth Medow
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Tracks the power of lesbian visibility and community from the early ‘90s to the present day through the story of Franco Stevens’ founding of Curve magazine. Decades later, in the wake of a disabling injury, Franco learns that Curve will fold within the year and questions the relevance of the magazine in the face of accelerating threats to LGBTQ+ community.
What you should know: Won several awards at LGBT film festivals in 2019-2020.
Where to watch: In select theaters, and virtual cinemas

Funhouse

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Stars: Valter Skarsgård, Khamisa Wilsher, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Christopher Gerard
Writer/Director: Jason William Lee
Genre: Horror
Plot: When eight celebrities from around the globe are invited to compete in an online reality show, they soon realize that they are playing for their very lives, as those voted off suffer horrific consequences, broadcast live to the entire world.
What you should know: Writer/director Jason William Lee also stars in the film.
Where to watch: Available VOD

Moby Doc

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Writer: Moby, Rob Gordon Bralver
Director: Rob Gordon Bralver
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: A surrealist biographical documentary narrated by Moby as he reflects on his turbulent personal life and iconic music from underground punk bands to chart-topping solo artist, and from struggling addict to vegan activist.
What you should know: Director Rob Gordon Bralver has directed five of Moby’s music videos.
Where to watch: In select theaters

Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog

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Stars: August Maturo, Ken Duken, Ayelet Zurer, Ádám Porogi
Writer: Lynn Roth, Asher Kravitz
Director: Lynn Roth
Genre: Family
Plot: Kaleb, a beloved German Shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family when the Nuremberg Laws are enacted in WWII Berlin. He is adopted by an SS Officer who trains him to attack and round up Jews at a concentration camp.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Asher Kravitz.
Where to watch: In select theaters

American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally

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Stars: Meadow Williams, Al Pacino, Thomas Kretschmann, Mitch Pileggi
Writer: Vance Owen, Darryl Hicks, Michael Polish
Director: Michael Polish
Genre: Drama
Plot: Follows the life of American woman Mildred Gillars and her lawyer, who struggle to redeem her reputation. Dubbed “Axis Sally” for broadcasting Nazi propaganda to American troops during World War II, Mildred’s story exposes the dark underbelly of the Third Reich's hate-filled propaganda machine, her eventual capture in Berlin, and subsequent trial for treason against the United States after the war.
What you should know: Based on the book by Vance Owen and William E. Owen
Where to watch: In select theaters

Blue Miracle

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Stars: Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Dennis Quaid, Bruce McGill, Raymond Cruz
Writer: Chris Dowling, Julio Quintana
Director: Julio Quintana
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Plot: To save their cash-strapped orphanage, a guardian and his kids partner with a washed-up boat captain for a chance to win a lucrative fishing competition.
What you should know: This is writer/director Julio Quintana’s second feature after the 2016 film The Vessel.
Where to watch: Netflix

Swimming Out Til the Sea Turns Blue

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Writer: Zhangke Jia, Jiahuan Wan
Director: Zhangke Jia
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Filmmaker Jia Zhangke chronicles his local literature festival in Shanxi, China which includes a multi-generational roster of the country's most esteemed writers.
What you should know: It’s in Mandarin.
Where to watch: In select theaters

Welcome Matt

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Stars: Tahj Mowry, Deon Cole, Jazsmin Lewis, Adriyan Rae
Writer/Director: Leon Pierce, Jr.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Matt, a well known writer and director, suffers a traumatic experience, that leads to him being deathly afraid to go outside. Therefore he decides to attempt to write, direct, and star in a feature film, all from his apartment.
What you should know: This is writer/director Leon Pierce Jr.’s first feature film.
Where to watch: Available VOD

More New Releases

A Quiet Place Part II (Trailer) from Paramount
Cruella (Trailer) from Disney
Women (Trailer)
Endangered Species (Trailer)

New on Streaming

The Vigil (Trailer) on Hulu
Baggio: The Divine Ponytail (Trailer) on Netflix

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? What are you planning to see?