THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING
A sensible, quirky crime caper that additionally doubles as a makeshift bluegrass musical, Andrew Patterson’s “The Rivals of Amziah King” is a stunning departure from the movie many anticipated he’d make after the success of his streaming hit “The Huge of Evening.” It’s additionally the film that managed to tug Matthew McConaughey out of a six-year live-action performing hiatus. McConaughey performs the titular Amziah King, a rugged, banjo-playing Oklahoma beekeeper struggling to make ends meet in a enterprise that’s not as worthwhile because it as soon as was. It’s the right position for the Oscar winner, who clearly relishes each second on display and even showcases some surprisingly sturdy singing chops.
Amziah’s journey facilities round reconnecting with one among his foster kids, Kateria (a game-changing efficiency by Angelina LookingGlass), and instructing her the ropes of the honey enterprise. Collectively, they help the police in investigating a string of incidents involving the theft of gallons of honey. Their investigation leads them down some surprising (and surprisingly bloody) paths, with Patterson drawing on a Coen Brothers-esque sensibility that enhances the movie’s darker, rougher moments.
Patterson excels at making a palpable sense of group and camaraderie among the many townsfolk and people in Amziah and Kateria’s orbit. The movie is undeniably a crowd-pleaser, incomes a big standing ovation after its premiere at SXSW. Whereas a distributor hasn’t but stepped ahead, I’d be shocked if a deal for this distinctive movie doesn’t materialize quickly. It’s one thing particular.
THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING world premiered on the SXSW movie competition. It’s at present in search of US distribution.
CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD
Based mostly on a sequence of bestselling books by Adam Cesare, Eli Craig’s “Clown in a Cornfield” isn’t simply essentially the most enjoyable I had watching a film at SXSW; it’s one of the vital exhilarating theatrical experiences, interval. Set to launch in Might from Shudder and RLJE Movies, “Clown in a Cornfield” could seem, at first look, like your typical slasher film (it does follow the components most of the time), however there are many moments the place it subverts expectations and throws you for a loop. It’s a bloody, gut-busting blast.
The movie additionally advantages from a stellar display queen efficiency by newcomer Katie Dougle, who performs Quinn Maybrook, the daughter of Dr. Maybrook (Aaron Abrams). The 2 have simply relocated to Kettle Springs forward of the annual Founder’s Day festivities. There, Quinn befriends a gaggle of teenagers—Cole (Carson MacCormac), Janet (Cassandra Potenza), Ronnie (Verity Marks), Rust (Vincent Muller), Tucker (Ayo Solanke), and Matt (Alexandre Martin Deakin)—who’ve gained notoriety among the many adults on the town for producing pretend YouTube movies that make it seem as if the city’s boogeyman, Friendo the Clown, is definitely killing folks.
You’ll be able to most likely guess the place that is headed, and Craig—maybe greatest recognized for his cult traditional “Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil”—by no means lets up.
There’s loads of intelligent, gory kills, and an underlying theme about holding onto the previous whereas resisting the inevitable modifications of the long run. It’s an absolute blast, one which had the complete crowd on the Paramount Theater throughout SXSW shedding their minds (one second, particularly, was the loudest I’ve skilled throughout my whole period there).
I really hope this film will get a large advertising and marketing and theatrical push as a result of “Clown in a Cornfield” deserves to be seen on the massive display with a large viewers. It guarantees to be a killer communal expertise.
CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD world premiered on the SXSW movie competition. Shudder and RLJE movie will launch the movie in theaters Might ninth.
