It’s been another good year for independent movies, and while it’s never easy to make a list that appeals to everyone, here are 10 film that were well-reviewed on the site in 2019 and worth adding to your queue.
![]()
Crown and Anchor
Director and co-writer Andrew Rowe‘s Crown and Anchor is a sensational character study, and while the story may lap over onto some familiar ground, is nonetheless a compelling and well made film glued together by smart direction and a few heartfelt performances. It follows Jimmy (Michael Rowe), battling haunts from his past, precariously holding onto his temper and rage, beating back a past he doesn’t want to face. That puts him in conflict with a small family and there are consequences to his every action. Gripping and intelligent, this is filled with a string of great moments and genuine punch. Read the full review.
![]()
One Cut of the Dead
Here’s a “horror” movie with a twist that does everything right. You don’t need to worry too much if you’re not a fan of the genre, because as good as the frights are, what you’ve get when you think it’s over is something truly unique. It follows an ambitious movie director (Takayuki Hamatsu) trying to make a zombie movie, only to have the worst happen. But what’s really going on? Clever, funny, scary, and downright joyful to watch for any fan of independent movies, this is a gem well worth getting to as soon as you can. Read the full review.
![]()
Seeds
Disguising itself as a horror film, which it surely is on many levels, this is not the typical monster in the dark fluff stuffing the digital shelves. instead, it’s a harrowing story of a man named Marcus Milton (Trevor Long), who is anchored by a dark past and a truly troubling need that he tries desperately to control. A terrible demon lives in the shadows of his life and struggles to tempt him in the abyss, and when his teenage niece (Andrea Chen) and her little brother (Garr Long) come to stay for a short time, it takes all can to suppress the creature slithering in the corners. Here’s another movie that many torn down, but this is an exceptionally-well made and distressing story that treats its subject in exactly the right way, leading to an experience like no other this year. Read the full review.
![]()
Such a Funny Life
With dreams of becoming a stand up comedian, David Gutierrez (Gonzalo Trigueros) has plenty of hurdles while trying to make it in New York City. From an ailing mother, to an abusive father, and guilt from a tragedy in his past, it’s a wonder David has any humor in his life. This small film from director Oliver Mann is a heavy-hitter with an emotional story and a run of earnest performances, leaving this feeling like it should be conventional but being anything but. By the time it ends, you are deeply invested in where David and those he orbits will end up, held together by Mann’s stylish yet subtle direction. read the full review.
![]()
Hamlet in The Golden Vale
Sure, Hamlet has seen its fair share of screen time at the movies, the Shakespeare play one of the most popular and reproduced works in all art history. However, this small production from directors Dan Hasse and Taylor Myers is an excellent reworking of the expected, remaining true to the verse and language of the play while giving it some modern edge. A single setting and a small cast with multiple responsibilities only work more in its favor, keeping this very accessible and always entertaining. Even if you’re not a fan of Shakespeare, this is a minor treasure for what it does not just in the name of the Bard’s timelessness but for Indie filmmaking itself. Read the full review.
![]()
American Woman
Stories of missing children are practically a subgenre all their own, having been made popular on TV movie of week specials for decades. However, that’s not enough to tarnish this small independent film from director Jake Scott, taking the expected and instead of trying hard to give it some odd twist, concentrates on the characters, most especially Debra (Sienna Miller), a hard working mother dealing with her teenage daughter Bridget (Sky Ferreira), herself a new mother. When tragedy strikes, American Woman doesn’t pander in the safe corners of this genre, instead, letting the greater truths of it all have much larger impact.
![]()
Human Affairs
A haunting, truly affecting story from director and co-writer Charlie Birns is a heartbreaking experience that surely divided some but is nonetheless one of the best in the genre ever made. It tells of a young French woman named Genevieve (Julie Sokolowski), who has come to the farmlands of Vermont to be a surrogate mother for theater couple Sidney (Dominic Fumusa) and Lucinda (Kerry Condon). While many found the story, and especially it’s highly unconventional ending reason to steer clear, it can’t be stressed enough that this deserves a better look. These are powerful characters and Birns refuses to play by the standards, crafting a deeply moving and honest look at a small story with profound consequences. Read the full review.
![]()
Strive
Director Robert Rippberger offers up a small but highly affecting film about a young black woman named Kalani (Joi Starr) with a big dream but held back at nearly every turn. With a devastating performance from Starr, this moving and honest slice of life is less about trying to prop itself up with obvious messages of hope and “you can do it” clichés seen elsewhere in movies like it, but rather sticking to the truths about the real obstacles many like Kalani face. Read the full review.
![]()
Small Town Hero
There’s never been a guy like Pep (Simon Cassidy) on screen before, or at least brought to life so vividly, he a good person absolutely fed up with well, people. Taking it upon himself to clean up his corner of the world, he leads a one man vigilante attack on the things that annoy him most, from an unkept neighbor’s lawn to something altogether much more dramatic. Writer and director Darren Bolton‘s fiery take on a man who knows too little is a powder keg of incendiary with a hallmark performance from Cassidy at its heart. You won’t soon forget this one. Read the full review.
![]()
Light of My Life
Wearing all the hats, writer, director, and actor Casey Affleck delivers a small but caustic survival film all about the personalities, tracking the harrowing story of a father (Affleck) and his child (Anna Pniowsky), struggling to stay alive in a world where half the population has been wiped out. There is a secret between them though that makes all the difference, leading to a troubling, often deeply emotional bond where the greater complexities of a world in chaos echo the paths of a two people with only each other to rely on. Brutally authentic and with two absolutely resounding performances, this little seen film is one of the best of the year. Read the full review.