PROVOKR Picks: Double Time
Luce And Them That Follow
This week, instead of having just one Provokr Pick, we have two.
First up is the awards-buzzy, Luce. This drama out of the Sundance Film Festival centers around a married couple, Amy and Peter Edgar (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth), and their adopted son Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) Amy and Edgar adopted Luce as a child from war-torn Eritrea, he has since grown up to become an all-star high school athlete and master debater, in short, he is a poster child for adoption and the new American Dream. His reputation is thrown into question and his parents must grapple with some dark truths when his teacher, Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spencer), discovers a disturbing essay he has written calling for violence as a “necessary cleansing force”. Making his parents ask, do they really know their son? Does he believe what he wrote? Or is this teacher just out to get him?
Sounds intriguing, right? So far, early reviews have been extremely positive, and with a stellar cast like that the acting is sure to be phenomenal. The film was directed by Julius Onah from a script he co-wrote with J.C. Lee (based on Lee’s play.) This movie promises to be at least a bit of a tear-jerker. Luce will be released Friday, August 2, 2019.
Next is Them That Follow. This thriller, also out of the Sundance Film Festival, is set deep in Appalachia and centers on a cult that handles venomous snakes to prove their worthiness before God. When the daughter (Alice Englert) of the Pastor (Walton Goggins) enters into a forbidden relationship, she must confront her community’s traditions if she wants to survive.
In addition to Englert and Goggins, the film stars Olivia Coleman, Kaitlyn Dever, and Jim Gaffigan, so another amazing cast. The film was written and directed by Britt Poulton, Dan Madison Savage and will be released on August 2, 2019.
Whether you’re looking for a dark drama or an edge of your seat thriller this weekend, one of these two films is sure to excite. Or, go crazy and do a double feature.
