INDIE FILM NEWS: Summer/Fall Film Festival Preview

Hosted by Jason Godbey, Creative Director, Behind the Rabbit Productions

On this bonus episode of No Rest for the Weekend we bring you our preview of upcoming film festivals including: Katra Film Series, NYC Web Fest and featuring Catherine Delaloye (Founder, Female Voices Rock Film Festival), and NRFTW Contributors EJ Argenio and William J. Hammon (Founder, I Actually Paid to See This blog) give you a sneak peek at some of feature film selections of the Greenpoint Film Festival.

Films discussed on this episode:

Chuck Berry

The documentary Chuck Berry examines the life and career of the father of Rock N’ Roll, Chuck Berry. The film shares all aspects of the famed musician’s life from his troubles with the law as an 18-year old to his induction into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Directed by documentarian Jon Brewer (B.B. King: On The Road, Beside Bowie: The Rick Monson Story), Chuck Berry explains how the icon was more of a poet than a musician and how his songs were more than just catchy tunes. They told a story from start to finish. Comprised of interviews with Berry’s family, including his wife of 69 years, and other musical legends like Nile Rogers, Alice Cooper, Gary Clark Jr. and Gene Simmons, Chuck Berry shares with audiences who Chuck Berry was as both family man and performer. Filled with hits like “Johnny B. Goode” and “Maybellene,” Chuck Berry has everything for fans of all things Rock N’ Roll.

Go/Don’t Go

In Go/Don’t Go the end of humanity is here and only Adam (Alex Knapp) remains to roam the terrains in search of resources and supplies. Trying to stay sane during his isolation, Adam distracts himself with a scheduled daily routine. However, this might not be enough to save him when he starts to think he may not be the only one who survived.

Aside from taking on the film’s leading role, Go/Don’t Go is also written and directed by Knapp with Olivia Luccardi (The Deuce, Orange is the New Black) co-starring. Beautifully filmed by cinematographer Frankie Turiano, Go/Don’t Go provides a tense story of loneliness, forgiveness and hope. This is a great film for fans of post-apocalyptic cinema.

Snatchers

John Kingman directs this enthusiastic B-movie parody, a riff on Invasion of the Body Snatchers coupled with social commentary on the gentrification of Brooklyn. With an ensemble cast featuring social justice warriors, vegans, sexually frustrated Menonites, and an FDA inspector seemingly transplanted out of a 70s cop drama, Snatchers combines referential comedy and campy special effects in a way that shows everyone involved simply having fun making a movie. Cameos from comedian Dave Hill and New York radio personalities Wendi Rickman and Scott Shannon give this film a decidedly Big Apple feel while also letting the audience chuckle at the slew of punny names for fried pickle food trucks.

Locked Alone

Written and directed by Yung-Jen Yang, Locked Alone is a brilliant bottle film and showcase for its lead actress, Claire Hsu. After moving into an upscale apartment, Hsu’s Catherine finds herself trapped by a supernatural force that preys upon her sexually, leading her to question her life priorities as well as her own sanity. It also serves as a poignant visual metaphor for the fear that many women feel as victims of sexual harassment and assault.

Yung-Jen Yang incorporates a heavy influence from Asian horror masters, most notably Takashi Miike, as he weaves a self-contained thriller full of paranoia, red herrings, and uncontrollable outcomes meant to stymie and victimize his lead. Clair Hsu’s performance is fully committed and believable, and in the wake of recent hits like the 2020 version of The Invisible Man, worthy of your attention.

Indiana

Gabe Fazio and Bradford West anchor this character study set against the backdrop of paranormal investigators in the American midwest. Directed by Toni Comas, Indiana showcases the so-called “Spirit Doctors,” who document and “solve” supernatural incidents. Michael (Fazio) is logical, straight-laced, and uses his work to cope with his own personal loss, while Josh (West) buys into his own hype to the point of being a charlatan, redeemable only through the enthusiasm he shows toward his son, Peter (Noah McCarthy-Slaughter), but between them, their rapport keeps them strong.

Meanwhile, an actual mystery unfolds not to far away, as a grizzly murder finds a way to coincide with the “Spirit Doctors” work, highlighting poetic justice as well as showing how the true demons are out in the open in everyday life. With a strong script, polished presentation, and solid performances, “Indiana” may seem like a familiar story to fans of indie cinema, but you’ll leave feeling this is surprisingly original.

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