Independent Dramas - Blue Ruin, The Stranger, and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore Reviews

Independent dramas, as I understand it, are those films which are produced by less well known backers which often include scripts unlike those seen in more mainstream cinema. The past few years I have tried to broaden my horizons and as such I have gone about watching more obscure movies not that the ones I am reviewing here today have not been discussed before but maybe they are not as well known as some other films. Lets begin.

Blue Ruin (2013)

This was a great revenge film set in the western esque thriller genre much in the style of No Country for Old Men which I enjoyed for its understated style and the solid lead performance from Macon Blair.

Shocking and abrupt bursts of violence and an unpredictable script which always left the audience guessing where the movie was going to go next ensured that the film would keep the viewer engaged and on the edge of their seat.

Check this one out if you want to see a good modern western crime thriller that has become a cult classic.

The Stranger (2022)

Watched this one on Netflix and thought it was an alright movie that was elevate by clever editing and two great lead performances by Sean Harris and Joel Edgerton who always delivers and is one of my favourite actors.

This movie started out really good with a compelling story where Edgerton goes undercover to try and learn whether or not Sean Harris' character committed a heinous crime in the past. The inclusion of some dream sequences and a mostly intriguing plot kept me engaged with the movie but its underwhelming conclusion left me wanting more and makes it hard for me to recommend this one unless slow moving mystery dramas are something you really enjoy.

Now for my favourite independent drama that I watched in 2023, so far.

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

I could have watched this movie seven times over in the time I spent trying to ignore it in my Netflix watchlist. Having finally seen it I am filled with regret for not watching it sooner.

But maybe now I have seen it at just the right moment in my life. The characters in this film are superbly abnormal and infectiously human. Macon Blair is a PHENOMENAL director, clever scene changes and purposefully misleading cinematography made this a great viewing experience.

Melanie Lynskey’s character is painfully relatable. From her initial nihilistic view on humanity which sends her into depression to when she accepts life for what it is bolstering her confidence and motivating her to decide to not let people walk over her again. I love this character and Lynskey did a great job bringing her to life.

Elijah Wood is similarity great here as a quirky man whose only friend in life prior to meeting Lynskey was his senior dog. I wish there were a million sequels to this film so I could watch them continue to open up to each other, battle those forces working against them, and create happiness together along the way.

It’s ironic that Macon Blair directed this since I feel that this film would make a perfect double feature with Blue Ruin, which Blair starred in. Both films share an anything goes western style which includes many comments on society as in the vein of a film like Thoroughbreds. I hope more movies are made that fit within this interesting and unique genre.

This is a brilliant film that touches on some incredibly heavy philosophical topics but never overwhelms the viewer and instead offers a glimpse into humanity’s ability to overcome and adapt. Hopefully this movie gets a physical release so it is not forgotten to time.

Here is the trailer for I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore