Five Upcoming Must-See Indie Films

Niki D'Andrea September 23, 2011 8:00AM

There's no shortage of major studio movies coming out this fall. This weekend, Moneyball (starring Brad Pitt) comes out, and October will see the release of Paranormal Activity 3 and remakes of The Thing and Footloose.

But if you're not interested in seeing yet another remake of an old blockbuster, or you don't have the stomach for something like The Human Centipede Part 2 (also coming out in October), here are five indie films hitting screens soon worth checking out (with trailers):

5. Red State: (Smodcast Pictures, comes out 9/23)

This suspense/thriller is directed by Kevin Smith, a man known more for his indie comedies (Clerks 2, Zack and Miri Make a Porno) than horror films (in fact, this movie was originally dubbed "Untitled Kevin Smith Horror Project").

But Smith has a knack for thinking outside the box, and so rather than make a slasher film or a ghost movie, he made Red State, which follows the story of a group of Midwestern teens who receive an online invitation for sex. Needless to say, not everything goes as planned. Add a gruff, growling John Goodman to the cast, and Smith has a truly chilling recipe for drama here.

4. Archie's Final Project: (Rocket Releasing, comes out 9/23)

When high school media geek Archie Williams vows to kill himself on camera for a class project, everyone from doctors and parents to the prettiest girl in school swarms around him with dubious intentions. Some want to help him, some want to be him, and some just want him to follow through on his project. The cast of this "comedy/drama" includes David Carradine, in one of his final roles.

3. Munger Road: (Freestyle Releasing, comes out 9/30)
This limited-release horror movie spins a classic genre yarn about a haunted road, and throws some slasher flick elements in for good measure. The story's basically about an infamous street called Munger Road, with is rife with legends of death and murder. Four teenagers (naturally) go missing on Munger Road the night of the annual Scarecrow Festival, and two cops embark on a search for a return killer.

2. Finding Joe: (Balcony Releasing, comes out 9/30)
This documentary tells the story of famed mythologist Joseph Campbell, who studied human myths and stories to help understand and interpret cultural history. Director Patrick Takaya Solomon's documentary examines the man, from his friendship with Columbia Professor Heinrich Zimmer and his differences of philosophy with Carl Jung, to his lasting influence in academia.

1. The Woman: (The Collective, comes out 10/14)
Fans of "wild child" movies about humans being raised in the wild will probably enjoy The Woman, but be warned: this isn't some heart-touching drama like Nell. In this movie, a lawyer comes across the last remaining member of a violent clan that once roamed the Northeast coast. He takes her home and attempts to "civilize" her, which turns out to be a really, really bad idea.

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Niki D'Andrea has covered subjects including drug culture, women's basketball, pirate radio stations, Scottsdale staycations, and fine wine. She has worked at both New Times and Phoenix Magazine, and is now a freelancer.

Contact: Niki D'Andrea

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