Glen Reynolds Glen Reynolds

Indie Film Weekly [EP 36]: Splitsville (2025), Relay (2025), Tommy (1975)

Welcome back to Indie Film Weekly, the podcast that tracks new indie film releases so you don’t have to scroll through 900 thumbnails and still end up watching The Office again. I'm Glen Reynolds, and as always, this episode is brought to you by Indie Igniter—helping independent filmmakers build audiences, one honest click at a time. Check it out at theindieigniter.com

Let’s dive in.

New in Theaters

First up, Splitsville is now in theaters. When his wife asks for a divorce, a bewildered husband turns to his married friends for support, only to discover that the secret to their happiness is—you guessed it—an open marriage. It’s a funny, uncomfortable, and sharply observant dramedy about modern love, directed by Michael Angelo Covino. Dakota Johnson stars as one-half of the unraveling couple, bringing her trademark blend of charisma and chaos to this comedy about modern love and its many, many loopholes. If you’ve ever said “we’re just redefining our relationship” and meant it, this one’s for you.

Also in theaters this week is Lurker, a psychological thriller set in the art-meets-pop-music scene. A low-level retail worker gets dangerously close to a rising music star, infiltrating her inner circle under increasingly shady pretenses. As the stakes climb, so do the body count and the stylistic flourishes. It’s creepy, slick, and has a bit of that Single White Female energy but with synth beats and gallery openings. Rising star Alex Russell, who also directed, keeps the tension simmering beneath the surface in this intimate thriller where fame, obsession, and identity collide. This one earns its title in every way.

Then we have Relay, a smart, tense thriller also opening in theaters. Our protagonist is a professional bribe broker—yes, that’s a thing—who arranges deals between corporations and the people trying to take them down. But when one client needs protection rather than corruption, he has to violate his cardinal rules. That small ethical hiccup throws his carefully constructed world into chaos. Riz Ahmed anchors the film with a cool, coiled intensity that makes you question everyone’s motives, including his own. Directed by David Mackenzie, it’s a sleek, morally murky dive into the business of compromise.

So that’s Splitsville, Lurker, and Relay—in theaters this week!

Films to Rent or Download

On TVOD this week is Remembering Gene Wilder, a warm, heartfelt documentary about the man who brought us Willy Wonka, Dr. Frankenstein, and that heartbreaking rendition of “Pure Imagination.” Directed by Ron Frank, the film weaves interviews and never-before-seen footage into a portrait of a gentle genius whose comedy had an unmatched twinkle. The film features loving reflections from Mel Brooks and Carol Kane, adding personal warmth to the legend’s legacy. Available now to rent or buy on all major platforms—maybe bring a tissue or three.

Indie Classic

And for our classic pick, Tommy is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and you can stream it on the Roku Channel. Directed by Ken Russell and featuring music by The Who, Tommy is the original rock opera fever dream. It follows a boy rendered deaf, dumb, and blind after childhood trauma, who grows up to become a pinball savant and, naturally, the spiritual leader of a cult. The cast is a wild ride in itself—Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Tina Turner, and Jack Nicholson all show up to turn the volume (and the chaos) to 11. If you’ve ever thought, “You know what this needs? More glitter, more trauma, and Elton John in platform shoes,” Tommy is calling your name.

Check it out on The Roku Channel.

That wraps it for the August 22 edition of Indie Film Weekly. Whether you're fumbling through an open marriage, creeping toward fame with questionable motives, or playing moral limbo with bribe money—or you’re celebrating a curly-haired legend or vibing with The Who’s loudest fever dream—there’s something indie for you this week. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Indie Igniter newsletter at theindieigniter.com. And please leave us a review or share the pod—preferably with someone who’s still quoting Zoolander.

Until next time, don’t be afraid to get weird, get niche, and get loud about what you love.

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