August 2021 brings more VOD films. As we close things up near the end of summer. Let’s talk about some of these on demand and VOD titles we watched at AndersonVision.
Victim of Love Coming to On Demand on 7/20 & DVD on 8/10 From Indican Pictures
Victim of Love is a film I’ve watched three times now. Hell, I might have just reviewed it by the time you read this. I will say that repeat viewings help out a movie like this. While the killer colorful cinematography helps to catch your eyes, there is something to the frequent language breaks.
It took me a few times watching Victim of Love in August for it to finally hit that sweet spot for me. Sheer panic thrillers are hard to pull off and this took awhile to connect for me. Still not totally sure I feel about it.
NOT GOING QUIETLY Featuring Ady Barkan, The Most Powerful Activist in America | In Theaters August 13, 2021 from Greenwich Entertainment
Not Going Quietly is a startlingly strong documentary about Ady Barkan. While I heard about Barkan in passing, learning more about the man’s cause was surprising. Mainly because it’s indicative of the information overload of our modern age. There was a time when an activist with a point would gain attention.
Activism used to catch more attention before it became the hobby of every bored suburbanite and rando with an Internet connection. But even when I was a kid, all of these activist tales were tinged with tragedy or drowned by the actions. For every Norma Rae, there were plenty of Karen Silkwoods. So, what is one to do?
Honestly, watching the documentary this August is a start. Then learn more about Barkan past this point. Read about Ady Barkan’s recent successful activist moment.
Modern Love Season 2 arrives from Amazon Video on August
Modern Love: Season 2 returns after the softly received first season hit almost 2 years ago. While nothing has changed that drastically, series showrunner John Carney shows that he is one of the most underrated writer/directors alive. Blending short stories among a wide and varied cast, he finds a way to tell stories about love and how it is found. Never fake or melodramatic, this season finds Carney leaning back on his European roots. Check it out this August.
A Wake Arrives on DVD/VOD August 31st from Breaking Glass Pictures
A Wake was much more brutal than I was expecting. No one should find stories about a teenager’s funeral to be that appealing. However, this drama should gain a wider audience in August. Leaning towards awakening feelings about sexuality while also examining how families handle such things, A Wake never shies away from the hard stuff.
Noah Urrea is amazing in the lead, as he keeps a story like this from becoming cliche weepy material. Strong work all around.
The Unthinkable arrives on DVD and VOD on August 3rd from Magnolia Pictures
The Unthinkable is a movie about the horrors of unexpected warfare. Arriving from Sweden, this movie is closer to Miracle Mile than it is Red Dawn. Watching real people react to something they can’t control, but will destroy them is pretty staggering. You don’t get to see a ton of movies like this, but I appreciate the ones that tackle these issues. I’d recommend watching it.
Riders of Justice arrives on Blu-ray, VOD and Digital on August 17th
Riders of Justice is an action comedy that I think I only liked because of Mads Mikkelsen. While this suburban armed militia gang movie is funny, so much of it feels like Dad Porn ala Taken. Given the Scandinavian cinema nature of the story, there is a nice wrap-around device that explains how everything comes together. Still, I have to say I preferred Men & Chicken more from the same creative team.
BLOOD CONSCIOUS: In Select Theaters + Digital/VOD on August 20th
Blood Conscious is the kind of horror I watched a ton in August. Strikingly visual by being shot in 1.33:1, your eye is focused on the actors and how they contrast against the cabin setting. However, very little popped for me after seeing the actors squished into one location.
I like a lot of what Nick Damici does in the film. However, I’m hitting a point where I need to see smaller budgeted horror films kick it up a notch. Oh, they’re demons and we miss out on a lot of what they did? Fill me in better. Horror requires a degree of spectacle and it’s up to the creative talent to find a way to convey it regardless of the budget. It’s a minor issue, but one that nagged at me.
Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power hits theaters on August 20th
Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power was a movie I watched many times in August. While it plays into many of those documentary pitfalls, I feel that it also helped introduce Lee to a wider world. Growing up as a groundbreaking pioneer for WOC rights, it was interesting to see how much Shirley Chisholm changed her life. While true for the time, I didn’t know how close the two women were and what has come from that.
Beyond that point, it’s always so great to hear Democrats celebrating the unsung in the party that rise to the top. Especially, as we enter a new era of fighting back against the aging and decaying Right wing. Great stuff all around and well worth your time.
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