15 Great Independent Films Of 2021.
2021 has been a good year for indie films, with some real stonkers hitting the screens both big and small. From dystopian nightmares, brutal revenge movies, survival horrors, full on gangster films, hard hitting dramas, and zero budget Sci-Fi’s.
There’s been many stand out performances, Frankie Faison’s in THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN is breath-taking, Hannah Douglas is certainly one to watch in LAPWING, Bethan Waller captures her role perfectly in THE LAST RITE, while Emily Skeggs is just fucking brilliant in DINNER IN AMERICA.
And it doesn’t stop there, Przemyslaw Bluszcz is absolutely savage in his role as ‘Nos’ in PITBULL – EXODUS, Kyle Gallner is the perfect anti-hero in DINNER IN AMERICA, Kate Dickie once again confirms her absolute class in UNDERGODS, Craig Fairbrass is at his brutal best in RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER ORIGINS, Neil Maskell goes perfectly about his business as the merciless Bull.
Up an coming director to look out for are David Midell (THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN), Philip Stevens (LAP WING), Richard Miller (REPEAT), Leroy Kincaide (THE LAST RITE), Conor Boru (WHEN THE SCREAMING STARTS), Rob Jabbaz (THE SADNESS), Chino Moya (UNDERGODS), Savvas D. Michael (ORIGINAL GANGSTER, THE BEZONIANS), Nick Nevern (RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER ORIGINS) & Adam Rehmeier (DINNER IN AMERICA).
15) THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN
Directed by David Midell
Genre: Drama
Verdict: Frankie Faison's performance will leave you short of breath.
Outline: THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN tells the true story of the final hours of the life of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were sent to his home to check on him.
At 5:22 AM on November 19, 2011, Chamberlain’s medical alert device was mistakenly activated; police arrived shortly thereafter. Despite Kenneth informing the officers there was a mistake and he did not have an emergency, they were recorded taunting Kenneth, ridiculing his military service, howling racial epithets at him, and finally, the officers broke his door down and shot him to death.
THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN has been released in the US, but is awaiting a UK release.
14) LAPWING
Directed by Philip Stevens
Genre: Historical Drama
Verdict: An impressive slow-burner, Hannah Douglas Shines.
Outline: A mute young woman, Patience, from an isolated community in rural England in 1555, struggles with her controlling brother-in-law and leader, David, who is gradually unraveling after the failure of his idyllic community. The Egyptian Act has been passed, stipulating that all ‘gypsies’ must vacate England immediately and anyone found aiding them could be executed.
In exchange for a fee, David agrees to help an Egyptian family who must stay a month on their land until a ship comes to take them away. The others in the community tolerate this decision, hoping it could lead them to a more prosperous life. But when Patience pursues an affair with one of the outsiders, she is thrust into a violent and vicious psychological battle with David, who sees her actions as a direct rebellion, and a threat to the power he desperately wants to maintain over the community.
13) REPEAT
Directed by Richard Miller
Genre: Sci-Fi
Verdict: A nicely crafted piece of zero budget filmmaking.
Outline: Cognitive psychologist Ryan Moores investigations into the inner workings of the brain lead him to an unbelievable and totally unexpected discovery - a signal from the afterlife. Ryans joy is short-lived as he digs deeper to understand the signal from the otherside his young Sam daughter vanishes without a trace. When all leads go cold he takes the investigation into his own hands.
Watch our exclusive REPEAT, behind the scenes feature below ↓
12) NIGHT DRIVE
Directed by Brad Baruh & Meghan Leon
Genre: Road Movie
Verdict: A genre flipping road movie.
Outline: Ride-share app driver Russell picks up his Hollywood fare Charlotte, who hires him for the rest of the evening. Their first stop at her ex's place sees Charlotte running out the door clutching a tiny suitcase being chased. They make their escape, but accidentally run over a pedestrian, setting in motion a chain of gruesome events that will go to places Russell could never have imagined in his wildest dreams. For what’s in the suitcase is something so surprising, so unexpected, it’s out of this world.
11) THE LAST RITE
Directed by Leroy Kincaide
Genre: Horror
Verdict: Bethan Waller rocks in Leroy Kincaide's, classy, atmospheric, British horror.
Outline: A vibe of true horror coupled with the dank sense of uncertainty. Fact can be stranger and more terrifying than fiction. Medical student Lucy (Bethan Waller), suffering from sleep paralysis, finds herself plagued by a demonic entity after moving in with her boyfriend. Torn between sanity and the unknown, Lucy seeks help from a local priest forced to make a deathly choice. With the clock ticking, will Lucy escape the dark force consuming her from inside? Actor-turned-writer/director Leroy Kincaide makes his accomplished feature debut with a stark supernatural horror, one inspired by Kincaide’s own real-life paranormal experiences.
10) WHEN THE SCREAMING STARTS
Directed by Conor Boru
Genre: Comedy Horror
Verdict: Darkly funny and bloody enjoyable.
Outlook: When Norman Graysmith is invited into the home of an aspiring serial killer, Aidan Mendle, he believes he has found the subject for the documentary that will transform his failing career. Initially the production goes well with Aidan freely opening up about his desire to kill, but when his early attempt at committing murder falls apart, things begin to unravel.
Aidan desperately tries to maintain his position as the next Charles Manson by starting a murder cult, interviewing prospective members for what he affectionately calls his “family”. The potential candidates provide a rich tapestry of misfits, from the lost and confused to the (most likely) psychopathic. Events begin to spiral out of control and Norman watches his dreams crumbling around him.
WHEN THE SCREAMING STARTS celebrated its world Premiere at FrightFest 2021
9) THE RETALIATORS
Directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr. & Bridget Smith
Genre: Horror
Verdict: Starts off like a cheesy TV movie, leaves you gobsmacked and crying out for more.
Outline: An upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter's brutal murder. A high-octane original soundtrack and cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music set the tone as this horror-thriller reveals a game of revenge played using a new set of rules.
THE RETALIATORS celebrated its world Premiere at FrightFest 2021
8) THE SADNESS
Directed by Rob Jabbaz
Genre: Horror
Verdict: Possibly the greatest Zombie movie you will ever see.
Outline: The city of Taipei suddenly erupts into bloody chaos as ordinary people are compulsively driven to enact the most cruel and ghastly things they can imagine. Murder, torture, and mutilation are only the beginning... A young couple is pushed to the limits of sanity as they try to reunite amid the violence and depravity. The age of civility and order is no more.
THE SADNESS celebrated its UK premiere at FrightFest 2021
7) UNDERGODS
Directed by Chino Moya
Genre: Sci-Fi
Verdict: A beautifully grim, dystopian delight
Outline: In a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world, K and Z roam the streets on the lookout for corpses and something even more valuable - fresh meat.
6) ORIGINAL GANGSTER
Directed by Savvas D. Michael
Genre: Gangster Film
Verdict: A Wizard of Oz trip through London gangland.
Outline: ORIGINAL GANGSTER is the stoic chronicles of Castor, orphaned as a child, forced to survive in the wild and his colourful journey through the criminal underworld of London.
5) THE BEZONIANS
Directed by Savvas D. Michael
Genre: Gangster Film
Verdict: A joyride of colourful characters, jet black humour and violent fun.
Outline: In the Bezonians social club in North London, A group of down and outs scheme, plot and dream of becoming rich and breaking out of the monotony of their dreary and financially impotent lives.
THE BEZONIANS is out now in the US, and will be released in the UK, April 2022
4) RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER ORIGINS
Directed by Nick Nevern
Genre: Gangster Film
Verdict: Balances violence with style.
Outline: When a down-on-his-luck Tony Tucker lands a job as a nightclub doorman after saving the owner’s grandson, he will do whatever it takes to rise to the top of the game. Teaming up with Essex heavyweight Bernard O’Mahoney at the height of the 1980s rave scene, Tucker could do no wrong.
A voracious appetite for money, drugs, and a glamorous lifestyle soon develops, fueling his growingly audacious ventures and seeing him join forces with Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe to capitalise on the drug-boom. Packed with fights, revenges, and explosions, the ultimate origin story brings Rise of the Footsoldier full circle, and tackles many of the franchise’s previously unanswered questions.
3) PITBULL – EXODUS
Directed by Patryk Vega
Genre; Gangster Film
Verdict: Przemyslaw Bluszcz is brutal, we need to see him in more movies.
Outline: The story is told at the turn of several decades, showing the fight between the police and criminal groups from the Eastern Europe. Follow one criminals life during his childhood and adolescence to show us how he became a involved in the criminal underworld. The villains path soon crosses with a policeman who sacrifices a large part of his life just to catch him. With twists, turns, shocks and spectacular scenes Vega is back giving everyone what they want.
2) DINNER IN AMERICA
Directed by Adam Rehmeier
Genre: Comedy
Verdict: An indie gem, watch it now, thank us later
Outline: In a dreary Midwestern suburb, aggro punk rocker Simon (Kyle Gallner) finds himself on the run again after a bout of arson and a close call with the police. A chance encounter with the spirited and socially awkward Patty (Emily Skeggs) provides him a place to lay low. As the two embark on a series of misadventures, they begin to realise they have a lot more in common than they first expected…
1) BULL
Directed by Paul Andrew Williams
Genre: Revenge Movie
Verdict: Neil Maskell is big bad bull, and he's merciless.
Outline: Bull is a brutal, subversive and wickedly suspenseful revenge thriller written and directed by Bafta®-winner Paul Andrew Williams (London to Brighton), and featuring outstanding performances from an electric Neil Maskell (Kill List, Utopia) and a terrifying David Hayman (Taboo, Vertical Limit) plus Tazmin Outhwaite (Eastenders). After a 10-year absence, former gang enforcer Bull returns to his old haunts to find his missing son and seek revenge on those who double crossed him and left him for dead. Painful secrets from the past will soon be revealed and like a man possessed, Bull will stop at nothing to get back at those who must atone for their sins.
