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The landscape for independent films has changed rapidly. On one hand, the opportunity to build a theatrical release has become increasingly difficult, but on the other hand digital release has given indies a chance to play to a broad national audience at once. Each week, new indie releases will be profiled and because they might not be playing at a theater near you, one highly recommended film available now a click or two away via VOD (whether a new or not quite new release) will be presented for viewing without leaving your computer.

New releases for April 5th

6 Souls: When a film goes five years between production and release, it does set off red flags, but the optimistic hope is that not commercial does not necessarily mean not good. 6 Souls was filmed in 2008 under the title Shelter and received release in several foreign countries, but is just now receiving release in the U.S. Julianne Moore plays a psychologist treating a patient with multiple personality disorder (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). When it turns out that all of his other personalities are murder victims she begins to think something more sinister than mental illness may be at work in this horror/thriller.
Available at Vudu
Available at Amazon
Available at iTunes

The Brass Teapot: A down on their luck young couple have seemingly found the answer to their money problems when they find a teapot that dispenses cash. The only problem is that to get that cash you have to cause yourself physical pain. Of course things soon spiral out of control as they become addicted to their new material trappings in this metaphor for the things that people will put themselves through in the pursuit of wealth.
Available at Vudu
Available at Amazon
Available at iTunes

The Company You Keep: Robert Redford directs and stars in The Company You Keep as Jim Grant, a former Weather Underground activist who has seemingly escaped his past and is living as a lawyer with his 11-year-old daughter. When a journalist played by Shia LaBeouf discovers his identity as man wanted for a robbery, Jim goes on a cross-country quest to prove his innocence with the FBI on his trail. Redford has gathered an impressive ensemble cast, including Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Terrence Howard, Anna Kendrick, and Julie Christie, in his latest political thriller.

Simon Killer: After a bad breakup with his girlfriend, recent college graduate Simon takes a trip to Paris to get over his heartbreak. There he becomes involved with a mysterious prostitute, whom he convinces to use her position to blackmail her clients. As they get deeper into this scheme, it turns out that Simon might not be who he seems to be as his true nature is revealed.

Trance: The second James McAvoy crime thriller in as many weeks, this is definitely higher profile than last week’s Welcome to the Punch. Directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle, Trance is certainly looking to use the limited opening to hopefully be a launching pad to a wider release. McAvoy plays an art auctioneer who becomes involved in a heist of a painting from his own auction house. When he suffers a blow to the head and develops amnesia causing him to forget where he stashed the painting, his partner employs a hypnotist to help him remember. What follows is a series of plot twists that take place on several levels of consciousness.

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