Indie Spotlight

A spotlight on recent indie releases to help them find an audience. Even if I didn't like them, it doesn't mean that someone else won't.


Kill Your Darlings (2013) - The story of Allen Ginsberg during some of his more interesting years.

Who Might Like It: People who are interested in the Beat writers; anybody who likes biopics with an interesting angle; fans of Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan.



Best Man Down (2012) - Drama, comedy, a marriage, a death and brilliance all around.

Who Might Like It: Anybody looking for a great, simple story of a funeral after a wedding; people who like dark comedies, dramas and relationship dramas; fans of anybody in the main cast.



It's a Disaster (2012) - The hilarious end of the world of 8 ill-prepared people.

Who Might Like It: Anybody who likes character dramas; people who like end of the world comedies; and especially anybody looking for a combination of the two.



Prince Avalanche (2013) - Just a simple conversation between hilarious characters by great actors.

Who Might Like It: People who like simple, dialogue-driven films featuring a minimal cast and minimal setting; anybody looking for a small, character-driven film set during an historical time; fans of Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch.



Short Term 12 (2013) - Realism allows comedy and drama to come together in a fully likable manner.

Who Might Like It: People who like character dramas about teens and young adults; anybody looking for a story about foster care and troubled teen facilities.



Rapture-Palooza (2013) - The rapture is coming, be prepared to laugh.

Who Might Like It: People who end of the world comedies; anybody who likes skewering religious-based ideas; fans of Craig Robinson.



Family Weekend (2013) - Dark comedy turns a kidnapping into a sweet coming-of-age story.

Who Might Like It: People who like light-weight dark comedies; teens looking for a clever take on coming-of-age; anybody who likes quirky dysfunctional family dramedies.



The First Time (2012) - Proves that teen romances can be sweet and charming.

Who Might Like It: Teens and anybody older who appreciate teen movies; people who like teen romantic comedies and/or romantic dramas.



Stuck in Love (2013) - A romantic drama that survives on the empathy for the main characters.

Who Might Like It: Teens and a slightly older audience looking for a mature romantic drama; people who like stories about writers and love; fans of anybody in the main cast.



The Happy House (2013) - A horror-comedy short on thrills and laughs but interesting character interactions.

Who Might Like It: People who like character dramas disguised as horror-comedies; anybody looking for an odd combination of horror, comedy and relationship drama.



Girl Most Likely (2012) - A girl has lost her way and comes back home with quirky comedy.

Who Might Like It: People looking for a character study version of a quirky indie comedy; anybody who can appreciate some weird humour in an otherwise simple character drama; 30-somethings looking for a drama-comedy about growing up.



The Lifeguard (2013) - Quarter-life crisis character study with dramatic depression and comedic maturation.

Who Might Like It: 30-somethings looking for a drama-comedy about growing up; people who like films about inappropriate relationships between teenagers and adults.



Free Samples (2012) - A directionless character in a mostly directionless film supported by good actors and some funny lines.

Who Might Like It: People college-aged or older who can relate to Jillian's lack of direction in her life; people who like simple, quirky, dialogue-heavy character studies; anybody who doesn't mind random one-off characters used in an almost vignette-like setting; and fans of Jess Weixler or people who want to get to know a good up-and-coming actress.



The Brass Teapot (2012) - Takes a dark comedy premise and makes it funny only and light on discernment.

Who Might Like It: People who like light-weight dark comedies; teens and young adults who are looking for something slightly more thought-provoking than their usual targeted-fare.



At Any Price (2012) - A small character study that doesn’t lead to anything as interesting as it should.

Who Might Like It: Anybody who likes small, independent character studies; fans of Dennis Quaid or Zac Efron; people looking for dramatic-based thriller elements.



Straight A's (2013) - Simple family dynamics haphazardly put together.

Who Might Like It: People who like slightly mysterious elements to their family dramas; anybody who doesn't mind some simple kid dynamics mixed with a more mature look at love and relationships.



I'm So Excited (2013) - An only somewhat funny film about sex and death.

Who Might Like It: People who like Almodovar's irreverent sense of humour; fans of dark comedies with an emphasis on crass humour.



C.O.G. (2013) - A dichotomous journey through religion and homosexuality.

Who Might Like It: Anybody who can appreciate an anti-religious sentiment at the beginning that turns more pro-religious by the end; people looking for character-driven dramas with a slight emphasis on homosexuality; anybody who likes stories about the ivory tower interacting with middle America; fans of Jonathan Groff.



Brightest Star (2013) - A meandering romantic drama about losing love and finding yourself.

Who Might Like It: Teens and a slightly older audience looking for a mature romantic drama; people who can appreciate abstract character development; anybody who likes romantic dramas with an astronomy angle.



Electrick Children (2012) - A unique approach to a teen pregnancy leads us down new but frustrating and uncomfortable paths.

Who Might Like It: People who seek out the most unique, independent movies; teenagers or older who are looking for coming-of-age films that are more mature in their presentation.



Sexy Evil Genius (2013) - So far from genius, the insanity of Nikki undoes the good character and acting work that came before.

Who Might Like It: Anybody looking for dramas with a mysterious element to it; people who like dialogue-heavy films and aren't turned off by some wacky twists; fans of Seth Green, Michelle Trachtenberg or Harold Perrineau.



Chlorine (2013) - Materialistic characters get tangled up in a plot which doesn’t deliver any twists.

Who Might Like It: People looking for a drama-comedy mix of materialistic adults in a simple country club plot with a coming-of-age story.



See Girl Run (2012) - See girl travel back home and slowly think about changing her depression.

Who Might Like It: Women who relate to Emmie’s story; Portland, Maine residents who want to see their hometown in film; and people who like depressed, indie, romantic dramas.



The Devil You Know (2013) - Lacks the thrill of the story and the sense of purpose of artistic merit.

Who Might Like It: Fans of artistic thrillers with no action; people looking for a staid drama with thriller elements.



California Scheming (2014) - A thriller that becomes nothing with worthless characters.

Who Might Like It: Teens looking for minimal, slow-burning dramatic thrillers; anybody looking for a youthful and sexually-charged take on teenage angst.



Between Us (2012) - Boring people in uncaring friendships and relationships.

Who Might Like It: People who like slow-paced relationship dramas; people who don't mind script-less dialogue-driven films; adults who want to see unhappy relationships evolve/de-evolve.



Picture Day (2012) - Stuck between adolescence, adolescence and stereotypical immaturity.

Who Might Like It: Teens who like coming-of-age dramas who are indifferent to whether characters are likable or not; mature audience looking for a sullen take on the in-between teen years.