To begin this month, we’ll take a look at three different films that were well-received by most critics, but didn’t receive too much attention from general audiences. While none grade out as below average, two of the three are definitely worth checking out.
The Rivals of Amziah King (2025)
Black Bear Pictures, 131 minutes
The Rivals of Amziah King is a movie that falls into a lot of different genres, though it doesn’t really fit into any one category perfectly. It’s part drama, a bit of a contemporary Western, and there are also elements of a thriller. There are some folk musical numbers in it, too. Mainly, it’s a very odd movie, both in its substance and its arrangement (with the filmmakers seeming to really like stylized shots of people with bees flying around them).
The movie feels very split into two distinct halves, so much so that it almost feels like you’re watching two separate short films with many of the same characters. The first part of The Rivals of Amziah King concentrates on the titular Amziah reconnecting with Kateri, his foster daughter from years prior, after a chance meeting.
The second half of the movie centers on investigating what happened to stolen beehives. (Amziah and his friends run a honey business). I definitely preferred the earlier parts of the film, as the second section drags a bit more and also has some clear plot holes if you really think about it. There were also some highly questionable character decisions particularly with Katari that made her feel almost like a totally different character from the one she seemed to be earlier.
Overall, I think I’d give this one an above-average grade, albeit barely. Matthew McConaughey delivers a solid performance as Amziah, and it held my interest, at least mostly.
Grade: 5.5/10
The Weight (2026)
Vertical, 113 minutes
The Weight is a historical drama that premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s also the feature film directorial debut of Padraic McKinley, and, taken as a whole, he’s crafted a solid movie.
This is also the sort of movie that falls into multiple genres. It’s definitely a period drama, as it’s set in 1933, four years into the Great Depression (which is crucial to the story). It’s part action/adventure movie too. It’s a crime story. There are thriller and Western aspects as well. A few of the film’s scenes in the woods even have the heightened levels of tension one might expect to find in a horror film. Save romance, this movie has just about all the major genres covered.
Story-wise, we follow Samuel Murphy, a single father to a young girl. He’s played by Ethan Hawke (the lead and one of the best parts of the movie). As was common at the time, Hawke’s character has some pretty intense financial troubles. This leads to him being separated from his daughter and having to undertake a difficult journey under harsh circumstances. I know I’m being extremely vague with the plot description here, but that’s because I believe this is the type of movie that’s most enjoyable if you don’t know much about what’ll happen going in.
While not everything that happens in The Weight is super believable, if you’re willing to just go with it, there’s an enjoyable experience to be had here. With solid acting and an intriguing story, The Weight was a pleasant surprise, especially since I hadn’t heard too much about it beforehand.
Grade: 7.5/10
Buddy (2026)
Roadside Attractions, 96 minutes
Buddy is a creative horror black comedy that kept me entertained throughout its relatively short runtime. It’s the sort of film that feels like it could become a cult classic, even though it was already pretty successful, both commercially and critically, upon its release.
The movie focuses on children trapped in a 1990s children’s TV show (clearly based off of Barney & Friends) with a giant orange unicorn as the show’s lead. Of course, the unicorn turns out to be very evil. Much of the film is set in this children’s series’ world, with the first act of the film featuring scenes that feel like they’re straight out of a children’s program.
Buddy actually reminded me of the video game Doki Doki Literature Club, just in that it’s telling a story that presents itself as one genre before revealing itself to be horror. The movie has some really funny moments, too. It works great as a parody of children’s television.
Still, Buddy isn’t a truly scary film, so if you’re searching for that type of frightening horror, you might be better off choosing a different movie. I also think that a few of the turns later in the film might not be totally satisfactory to some viewers. Personally, I didn’t love some of the third act, but I still think the movie overall works. It’s certainly creative and well-crafted enough to receive my recommendation.
Grade: 7/10