Indie Film Release Guide: August 25th [An ONTD Original]

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Sony’s Gran Turismo has been in a state of half-release for the last few weeks, but this weekend is its official opening, and it doesn’t have any new major studio competition. But from the smaller studios comes a wave of women directed independent films, and you can read on for more info on those.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. 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: August 18th, August 11th, and August 4th.

Bottoms

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Stars: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu
Writer: Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott
Director: Emma Seligman
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Two unpopular queer high school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation.
What you should know: Premiered at SXSW 2023 .
Where to watch: In theaters



Perpetrator

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Stars: Kiah McKirnan, Christopher Lowell, Sasha Kuznetsov, Alicia Silverstone
Writer/Director: Jennifer Reeder
Genre: Horror
Plot: Jonny Baptiste is a reckless teen sent to live with her estranged Aunt Hildie. On the event of her 18th birthday, she experiences a radical metamorphosis: a family spell that redefines her called Forevering. When several teen girls go missing at her new school, a mythically feral Jonny goes after the Perpetrator.
What you should know: Writer/director Jennifer Reeder also wrote and directed Knives and Skin.
Where to watch: In theaters; on Shudder September 1st

Our Father, The Devil

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Stars: Babetida Sadjo, Martine Amisse, Souleymane Sy Savane, Jennifer Tchiakpe
Writer/Director: Ellie Foumbi
Genre: Thriller
Plot: An African refugee's quiet existence in a sleepy mountain town in the south of France is upended by the arrival of a charismatic Catholic priest whom she recognizes as the warlord who slaughtered her family.
What you should know: Winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters

Scrapper

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Stars: Lola Campbell, Alin Uzun, Harris Dickinson, Ambreen Razia
Writer/Director: Charlotte Regan
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Georgie, a dreamy 12-year-old girl, lives happily alone in her London flat, filling it with magic. Suddenly, her estranged father turns up and forces her to confront reality.
What you should know: Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic World Cinema at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters; expanding in future weeks

Retribution

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Stars: Liam Neeson, Noma Dumezweni, Lilly Aspell, Jack Champion
Writer: Alberto Marini, Christopher Salmanpour
Director: Nimród Antal
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Plot: A bank executive receives a bomb threat while driving his children to school that his car will explode if they stop and get out.
What you should know: The third remake of Spain’s Retribution from 2015, following German and South Korean versions.
Where to watch: In theaters

Piaffe

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Stars: Simone Bucio, Sebastian Rudolph, Simon Jaikiriuma Paetau
Writer: Ann Oren, Thais Guisasola
Director: Ann Oren
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Plot: When her sibling Zara suffers a nervous breakdown, the introvert Eva is forced to take on Zara's job as a Foley artist. Then, a horsetail starts growing out of her body.
What you should know: It’s in German and English.
Where to watch: In theaters

Bank of Dave

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Stars: Rory Kinnear, Joel Fry, Phoebe Dynevor, Hugh Bonneville
Writer: Piers Ashworth
Director: Chris Foggin
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A working class Burnley man and self-made millionaire fight to set up a community bank.
What you should know: Based on a true story.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Fremont

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Stars: Anaita Wali Zada, Jeremy Allen White, Gregg Turkington, Hilda Schmelling
Writer: Carolina Cavalli, Babak Jalali
Director: Babak Jalali
Genre: Drama
Plot: Formerly a translator for the United States military in Afghanistan, Donya struggles to rebuild her life in San Francisco and works for a Chinese fortune cookie factory. In a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a special message in one of the cookies.
What you should know: Nominated for awards at the 2023 editions of Sundance, SXSW and Deauville Film Festivals.
Where to watch: In theaters

The Elephant Six Recording Co.

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Director: Chad Stockfleth
Genre: Documentary, Music
Storyline: An inside look at the '90s psychedelic rock collective that launched Neutral Milk Hotel, The Olivia Tremor Control, and The Apples in Stereo.
What you should know: This is director Chad Stockfleth’s feature film debut.
Where to watch: In theaters

Golda

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Stars: Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, Rami Heuberge, Camille Cottin
Writer: Nicholas Martin
Director: Guy Nattiv
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Plot: During the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir must navigate overwhelming odds, a skeptical cabinet, and a complex relationship with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, with millions of lives in the balance.
What you should know: Director Guy Nattiv’s first short film in the United States, Skin, won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

Gran Turismo (Trailer) from Sony
The Dive (Trailer)
Before, Now & Then (Trailer)
The Hill (Trailer)

New to Streaming

How to Blow Up a Pipeline (Trailer) on Hulu
Vacation Friends 2 (Trailer) on Hulu
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (Trailer) on Netflix
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Trailer) on Amazon
BS High (Trailer) on Max

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?