Non-A24 Films for A24 Fans
If you, like me, are an independent film buff in the year 2021, I have news for you. Now this may come as a shock, but there are good movies out there that aren’t made by A24. I have absolutely no hate towards A24, it simply is a fact that there are indeed other film production and distributions companies that are also making great, independent movies. So, if you want to broaden your cinematic vocabulary and watch some recent, lesser-known gems, I got you.
FLOWER (2017)
Flower is the movie I wish I had in high school. It has snarky teenage wit, a wildly dramatic tonal shift (that I won’t spoil here), and most importantly: Kathryn Hahn. If you aren’t on board at the mere mention of Agatha Harkness herself, Kathryn Hahn, I’m not sure what will convince you but this comedy is definitely worth a watch. (Flower is available now on Hulu.)
SHE DIES TOMORROW (2020)
This film is a true enigma. It’s not a horror movie per se, but it definitely is not a comedy. In fact, no traditional genre label feels quite right for this film by director/writer/actor extraordinaire, Amy Seimetz. If you want a sub-90-minute movie with dazzling visuals and a compelling narrative that is truly unlike anything you’ve seen before, check out She Dies Tomorrow. (She Dies Tomorrow is available now on Hulu.)
LINGUA FRANCA (2019)
In this beautiful and deeply intimate film, writer/director Isabel Sandoval stars as an undocumented trans woman in New York City who is in desperate need of a green card. Lingua Franca was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards and is a complex exploration of the human condition, featuring characters from backgrounds we simply do not see enough in mainstream cinema. (Lingua Franca is available now on Netflix.)
THE RENTAL (2020)
With The Rental, director Dave Franco does to Airbnb what Steven Spielberg’s Jaws did to the ocean, and by that I mean that after watching you won’t want to go in one. Though it has a simple premise (a group of attractive young people get killed in an Airbnb) The Rental is truly one of the creepiest and most effective horror films of recent memory. It is astonishingly entertaining, mixing dry humor with intense scares to beautiful effect. (The Rental is available now on Showtime.)
Skate Kitchen (2018)
Crystal Moselle’s Skate Kitchen, as well as its TV spinoff series Betty, will make you feel lame simply due to how cool its leading ladies are. Both pieces follow a group of young women in New York City who are up to no good, living their best lives, and of course, skating. It is a wonderful example of the cinematic movement “no plot, just vibes” and let me tell you, the vibes are immaculate. (Skate Kitchen is available on Hulu while Betty is on HBO.)
THOROUGHBREDS (2018)
Why exactly this movie came and went from theaters without first becoming a true moment in culture is a mystery to which I am still searching for an answer. A witty and dangerous black comedy about two high schoolers planning a murder, starring two of this generation’s best young performers (Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke), Thoroughbreds was overlooked upon its release but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Watch it now! (Thoroughbreds is available now on most VOD services.)
