Indie Film Weekly [EP 29]: 40 Acres (2025) & Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Hey indie film lovers, welcome back to Indie Film Weekly—the podcast that skips the fireworks and celebrates the cinematic sparks flying in the world of independent film. I’m Glen Reynolds from Circus Road Films, here with your weekly rundown of what’s new in theaters, on demand, and from the vault.
And look, this is a holiday weekend, and I know barbecue and beach chairs are calling—but if you care about indie cinema, show up for it. Go to the theater. Buy a ticket. Bring a friend.
Because the only way we keep this ecosystem alive is if we actually show up. Streaming is fine. But indie theaters need bodies, not just good intentions.
Let’s get into it.
New in Theaters
First up is 40 Acres, a moody, apocalyptic thriller that imagines a world where animal life has been wiped out and humanity is unraveling. The Freeman family is hanging on—farming their ancestral land, defending against raiders, and trying to preserve a scrap of decency in the ruins. It’s gritty and raw, but never gratuitous. Think The Road meets A Quiet Place with fewer monsters and more moral reckoning. It’s not just about surviving—it’s about what we lose in the process.
Next: Kill the Jockey, directed by Luis Ortega. And let’s be honest—this one’s off the rails in the best way. Remo Manfredi is a washed-up jockey in debt, addicted, and spiraling. When he’s concussed by a rogue horse, he reinvents himself as Dolores, slipping into the Buenos Aires underground in heels and a mink coat. It’s a dizzy, gender-bending trip through identity, desire, and desperation. Imagine Black Swan but for the racetrack—and with more horse tranquilizers.
And finally, Pretty Thing. Alicia Silverstone is back and better than ever, playing Sophie, a confident, child-free career woman who falls into a hot-and-heavy affair with a younger man. But what starts sexy slowly gets weird, then kind of unhinged. Directed by Justin Kelly, this is not your mom’s midlife crisis movie. It’s sharp, stylish, and a little sinister—like if Fatal Attraction got Botox and a WeWork membership.
So that’s 40 Acres, Kill the Jockey, and Pretty Thing—proof that indie cinema still pushes boundaries and buttons.
Films to Rent or Download
On TVOD this week: Guitar Lessons, directed by Aaron James Sorensen. A 15-year-old Métis boy inherits a beat-up guitar from the father he never knew and decides to learn to play. His reluctant teacher? A grumpy, whiskey-soaked oilman with baggage of his own.
This one’s a slow burn with a big heart. It’s The Karate Kid meets Tender Mercies by way of Alberta. Bring tissues and maybe a worn-out Neil Young record. Available now wherever you rent movies.
Indie Classic
This week’s classic is not light summer fare, but it is unforgettable. Requiem for a Dream, directed by Darren Aronofsky, turns 25 this year. It’s a masterpiece of descent—following four people as they chase their dreams, only to spiral into addiction, delusion, and tragedy.
Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, and Ellen Burstyn (who should’ve won that Oscar, by the way) deliver career-best performances. The editing is manic, the score by Clint Mansell is iconic, and that final montage? Burned into the brains of every film student since 2000.
Fun fact: Aronofsky shot this for just $4.5 million. It premiered at Cannes and earned an NC-17 rating without flinching. Because sometimes, art shouldn’t be easy to watch.
It’s currently streaming on Tubi. But maybe watch it with a blanket and a support group.
That’s it for the July 4 edition of Indie Film Weekly. While the rest of the world is staring at fireworks, I hope you’ll be staring at a screen—indoors, AC cranked, popcorn in hand.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Indie Igniter newsletter for strategy tips, release rundowns, and tools for making and marketing your own indie project. And hey—if you like the pod, leave us a review. It helps more than you know.
Until next week, keep it heartfelt, keep it weird, and keep it indie.