Welcome to the Waiting Game (Again)
You ever just sit there staring at your email, waiting for something to happen? That's pretty much where “The Rivals of the Amziah King” is right now—except the movie's not checking Gmail, it's stuck in distributor purgatory, five months after a supposedly glow-up SXSW premiere. Don't feel bad; it's in good (read: restless, confused) company.
Let's do the short timeline since nobody else will:
- SXSW Premiere: March 2024. Yes, five months back. Films don't usually linger that long without a deal, unless there's a smell.
- Next Stop — Maybe TIFF: Rumor has it the film's headed to Toronto, the annual Hail Mary for movies seeking a sugar daddy. Will it work? Flip a coin. (It worked for “Vast of Night,” kinda.)
And no, there's no U.S. release date. Not even a hint.
So Why No Bidding War for This So-Called Indie Gem?
Short answer: Money. Longer answer: EGO.
Multiple buyers say Black Bear & Heyday, the people shopping “Amziah King,” want too much. Like, “third-round NBA draft pick” too much. The important folks—A24, Focus, Neon—aren't buying what they're selling (or maybe they're tired of it showing up at every open house).
Why the cold feet? Blame the SXSW effect. The event is notorious for showering films with praise that doesn't stick once you leave Austin. Eight critical reviews in, “Amziah King” is sitting at 65 on Metacritic. That's, ehh—not bad, not great. And if there's anything studio heads hate more than bad reviews, it's lukewarm ones.
Also: let's be honest, these guys read scores like horoscopes. No studio head wants to back a “maybe, could-be, critics-liked-it-okay” movie—those aggregate numbers haunt you. And when the budget and asking price don't line up with the buzz? You get radio silence.
Character, Cast, But… Red Flags
Let's tick a few other boxes:
- Shot in 2023. Check.
- Stars Matthew McConaughey, Kurt Russell, plus Owen Teague, Cole Sprouse, Angelina LookingGlass. Respectable human furniture.
- Plot: Apparently the honey trade in Oklahoma is “ruthless.” Sure. Next we'll get a maple syrup mafia.
You can almost see the pitch meeting now: “Think ‘Breaking Bad' but sweeter—literally.” But pedigree isn't the issue; baggage is. As with any awards-hopeful, the film needs a distributor who actually has enough skin in the Oscar game. That's not going to be anyone who just took a bath on the last SXSW “sure thing.”
(Brief) Pause for Context
Why should anyone care? Andrew Patterson's first movie, “The Vast of Night,” also premiered at a festival, got picked up by Amazon, and did fine. But that one was dirt cheap; “Rivals” is apparently playing a different price bracket. And in 2024, indie film deals aren't exactly raining from the sky.
Bottom Line
To recap:
- Strong buzz does not equal strong sales.
- Five months since SXSW, zero U.S. deal.
- TIFF may shift things, but don't bet the rent.
So yeah, the indie film circus keeps spinning. “The Rivals of the Amziah King” might yet find a home. But if you're puzzled why the movie's still single, trust me: there are buyers, just not at those prices. Wake me if something changes. Or, just send honey. Preferably not poisoned by industry overconfidence.
