Indie Film Weekly [EP 30]: Abraham’s Boys (2025) & Hustle & Flow (2005)
Hey there, indie film fans! Welcome to another edition of Indie Film Weekly, the podcast that champions the small and strange stories keeping cinema alive.
I’m Glen Reynolds from Circus Road Films, and every week I highlight the best new indie films in theaters, what’s worth renting at home, and a classic that deserves another spin.
Quick reminder: indie film survives when you show up. If something good is playing in a theater near you—go see it. It matters.
New in Theaters
First up this week is Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story from IFC Films. Horror fans, this one’s for you. Directed by Natasha Kermani and based on a short story by Joe Hill, the film imagines what happens after Dracula… but not for the vampire—this is about his hunter. Abraham Van Helsing is now a paranoid father, raising two sons, Max and Rudy, who have no clue about his violent past. That changes when they uncover the truth about their legacy—and let’s just say garlic and holy water suddenly become household essentials. Titus Welliver plays Abraham like he’s one missed nap away from madness, and the kids—played by Brady Hepner and Judah Mackey—bring both heart and horror. It’s family trauma with fangs, and one of the more clever spins on the Dracula mythos we’ve seen in years.
Next, To a Land Unknown, directed by Mahdi Fleifel. Two Palestinian cousins, Reda and Chatila, are scraping by in Athens, dreaming of reaching Germany. What starts as a street-level survival story escalates into something more desperate and emotionally charged, as a last-ditch scheme tests their loyalty and resilience. It’s gritty, empathetic filmmaking that never veers into sentimentality. Fleifel’s camera captures both the thrill and cost of chasing freedom. One of the most urgent films of the summer.
And finally, Sovereign, a fictional take on a very real subculture. Nick Offerman stars as Jerry Kane, a father indoctrinating his son (played by Jacob Tremblay) into the Sovereign Citizen movement—a deeply anti-government belief system. As they cross the country preaching self- made legal theories, they butt heads with Dennis Quaid’s Police Chief, triggering a collision of ideology and authority. Directed by Christian Swegal, Sovereign is part road movie, part cautionary tale. It’s unnerving, tragic, and thought-provoking, with a trio of terrific performances.
That’s Abraham’s Boys, To a Land Unknown, and Sovereign—a horror, a drama, and a political parable. Hit the theaters and support the stories that take risks
Films to Rent or Download
On TVOD this week: Portraits of Dangerous Women, a haunting indie drama from Pascal Bergamin.
Three strangers crash into each other—literally—after a surreal car accident involving a dog. What unfolds is a strange, poetic trip through grief, connection, and unexpected sisterhood. It’s a film that asks you to lean in, not explain everything, and maybe embrace a little bafflement.
If you like your indies a little off-kilter with emotional payoff, rent it now on Amazon or Apple.
Indie Classic
This week’s classic is Hustle & Flow, celebrating 20 years.
Directed by Craig Brewer, this breakout 2005 hit follows DJay (Terrence Howard), a Memphis pimp with a dream of becoming a rapper. With help from a ragtag crew—including DJ Qualls and Anthony Anderson—he lays down tracks in a makeshift home studio, trying to grab a shot at music stardom before time runs out.
It’s gritty, sweaty, and full of heart. Howard gives the performance of his career, and the film won Best Original Song at the Oscars for "It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp." Bonus trivia: I worked on a film written by Craig Brewer before Hustle & Flow and knew right then the guy was going places.
Watch it on Paramount+ or Tubi and see where it all began.
That’s a wrap on the July 11 edition of Indie Film Weekly. Whether you’re battling vampires, chasing freedom, or just trying to get your demo in the right hands, there’s an indie film waiting for you.
Be sure to check out the Indie Igniter newsletter for more release picks and indie survival tools. If you liked the pod, drop us a review—and tell your film-loving friends. The more eyes on these films, the better chance we keep them coming.
Until next week: stay curious, stay bold, and stay indie.