Textured with russet reds and pollinic yellows, Athina Rachel Tsangari’s spellbinding allegory gleans an atmospheric folk tale from a rural idyll. As landowners sow the seeds of modern capital, Sean Price Williams reaps horror and beauty from the earth with swirling, immersive cinematography.

In Alex Ross Perry’s audacious dark comedy, Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, and Jonathan Pryce round out a stellar cast for a story that takes emotionally rich, surprising turns. A comment on the loathsome, narcissistic writer figure that’s full of brutally acidic humour hiding deeper ponderings.

Before Listen Up Philip, Queen of Earth, and Her Smell, indie director Alex Ross Perry grabbed our attention with this wonderfully acerbic second feature. An uproariously abrasive, fast-paced comedy road movie about a hyper dysfunctional brother-sister duo, shot on gorgeous 16mm B&W film.

Calling upon the tradition of the psychological chamber thriller, Queen of Earth unites an astonishing Elisabeth Moss with Katherine Waterston to burrow deep into the complicated identities of two disaffected women. A fiery exploration of the iron grip emotions—both interior and exterior—have on us.

In this intimate romance, Sundance darling Michael Almereyda excels at presenting high-concept sci-fi questions in humane and moving ways. With towering performances by Lois Smith and Jon Hamm, Marjorie Prime delivers a gripping and tender reflection on love and identity.