NOTE: All of these films are rated PG-13 or higher and feature themes that may be uncomfortable for some viewers.

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012)

Set and shot in Pittsburgh, the film adaptation of Stephen Chbosky’s coming-of-age story is a bit different than your typical high school dramedy. The main character, Charlie, has severe anxiety and other mental health issues- obstacles treated with brutal honesty. It stars major Hollywood actors Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller in roles fairly opposite to the ones that made them famous. While it was a success when considering its budget and received critical acclaim, the film and book have both somewhat faded into obscurity. It’s worth revisiting if only for the frank and realistic depiction of being a teenager, regardless of its 90s setting. (Maybe this isn’t the most “indie” example, at least in terms of studio, but the overall themes and budget make it qualify.)

THE LAST SUPPER (1995)

Speaking of the 90s, this obscure black comedy is one of Cameron Diaz’s earliest works, starring alongside Ron Eldard and Bill Paxton. The film’s premise is spun off from that classic philosophical question: if you met a young Hitler and learned of his ideas, would you attempt to improve the future at the cost of his life? It’s an already morbid hypothetical made more gruesome by a group of grad students. They invite a stranger to eat dinner with them, listen to their thoughts on life, and decide whether it’s a night to play executioner. Despite the very dark story, the comedy is enough to keep it from growing too dour.

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (2016)

Directed by Taika Waititi (of Thor: Ragnarok fame), Wilderpeople follows a teenage boy and his father figure as they flee to the New Zealand bush. Their reasons for disappearing are gut-wrenchingly realistic and far too much of a spoiler for this little blurb. But the true strength of the film is how main characters Hec and Ricky play off each other, portrayed by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison respectively. The dialogue is classic Waititi, with almost every line feeling like an outtake from Ragnarok or last year’s Jojo Rabbit. It’s also worth noting that this is the highest-grossing New Zealand film in history.

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (2014)

While created in America, this “vampire western” is set in Iran and uses the Persian language exclusively. It combines elements from vampire films like Dracula with the style and general tone of spaghetti westerns a la Sergio Leone. Writer and director Ana Lily Amirpour has gone on record saying she had the cast watch Nosferatu and other western films in preparation for their roles. While it uses black-and-white to enhance the creepiness of the film and emulate its inspirations, the real standout is the use of shadows. The monochrome enhances the use of lighting- or lack thereof. The film also spawned a graphic novel adaptation and an alternate soundtrack, released in 2018.

THE FLORIDA PROJECT (2017)

It’s difficult to capture the perspective of a child, especially one going through a difficult situation. Their tendency to drift towards fantasy and imagination is sometimes a skill lost as adults. However, director-producer-writer Sean Baker proved he was capable with The Florida Project. A young girl lives in a Kissimmee, Florida motel room with her single mother as the parent tries to prevent them from becoming homeless. Not only does it accurately depict how a child would view and behave in such an environment, but the filming methods add a sense of realism. It was shot entirely on-site with a 35mm film. The film was a critical success, with Willem Dafoe being nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT (2015)

A film adaptation of the controversial Stanford prison experiment was originally announced in 2002. The movie would cover the 1971 project, in which a psychology professor used volunteer students to study abuse in the prison system. The time spent in development was due to the extreme nature of the original experiment and whether the film was profiting off the event. In the end, a more indie production was made and premiered at Sundance to rave reviews. Audiences praised the critical look at how quickly humans can turn on each other in positions of power. During its Sundance run, it won the Alfred P. Solan Feature Film Prize and the Waldo Walt Screenwriting Award, alongside being nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

24 FRAMES (2018)

Some might argue whether this qualifies as a “movie,” seeing as there’s not a real plot. Instead, Abbas Kiarostami’s last production is two hours of 24 scenes that don’t seem to interconnect. It plays out closer to a series of short films than a cohesive work. But each scene features a different filming technique that might otherwise be seen as a gimmick. The short length- around 4 and a half minutes- keeps them from overstaying their welcome. It’s also considered to be a perfect encapsulation of Kiarostami’s history as a director, making it a must-watch for his fans.

What are your favorite underrated indie movies? Let us know!

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ROW HOUSE CINEMA
Row House is unique: it showcases more popular movies alongside lesser-known films. Each week there’s a new theme, ranging from an actor to genre to director. Four films fitting the theme are chosen and played throughout the week. It also plays host to a few film festivals, such as the Harry Potter Film & Cultural Festival or the Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival.

Most Notable Feature: The neighboring store Bierport, owned by the same people, sells alcohol and other drinks to enjoy during the show. It’s also housed in a row house, which is typical architecture for Pittsburgh homes, but atypical for housing a movie theatre.

THE OAKS
This classic one-screen theater went through a renovation a few years ago, adding cabaret-style seating and restoring the signs and marquee. Although movies- both mainstream and independent- are shown, The Oaks also acts as a live venue for comedy groups and musicians. The new snack bar features a menu with flatbreads and wraps, plus a full bar.

Most Notable Feature: Cinebrunch, where classic movies are shown while guests can enjoy a delicious Sunday brunch, catered by nearby food staple the Oakmont Bakery.

HOLLYWOOD THEATER
Located in Dormont, this humble locale has a rich backstory and even richer lineup. Films range from anime imports to current box office smashes. The theater holds the distinction of being owned by the Theatre Historical Society of America, ensuring its legacy and glamour will be held up for years to come.

Most Notable Feature: The Hollywood Theater has regular showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with live actors and audience partici… pation.

THE MANOR
Much like the Hollywood Theater, The Manor plays both independent and major studio films. This variety makes it popular with anybody, especially with the cheaper ticket prices. The M Bar offers an array of snacks both traditional and creative; few other movie theaters can say they serve both popcorn and pot stickers.

Most Notable Feature: The Manor recently opened The M Bar, with upscale concessions, signature cocktails, wine, and beer…that you don’t just have to drink at the bar. You can now sip martinis with Bond or enjoy a white russian with Lebowski. Whatever signature drink your hero prefers, you can now enjoy it alongside them.

HARRIS THEATER
This theater is located in the middle of the cultural district and is run by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It was originally Pittsburgh’s first moving picture house, then called the Art Cinema. It reopened as the Harris Theater in 1995 and now plays art and independent films year-round. It’s one of the locations for the Three Rivers Film Festival.

Most Notable Feature: The rich history of this cinema makes it worth visiting, as does the dazzling marquee (which is especially stunning when lit up).

THE STRAND
While it’s a bit of a drive to get to this Zelienople cinema, the array of films and shows scheduled makes the trip worthwhile. Everything from animated classics to live stand-up shows are on deck, and cover bands are also frequent highlights. There’s also a store for the theater with limited edition prints and shirts on sale.

Most Notable Feature: The Strand offers a musical theater camp for kids 10-18 over the course of three weeks in the summer. In 2018, they performed Into the Woods Jr.

THE RANGOS GIANT CINEMA
For the ultimate “big screen” experience, there’s no other option than the Rangos, located inside the Carnegie Science Center. While educational films are shown throughout the day (it is a museum, after all), at night the screen comes alive with classics and blockbusters in oversized glory.

Most Notable Feature: We’re not exaggerating when we say that the theater has a. quite frankly, gigantic screen. The screen itself is 70 feet with two leading-industry laser illuminated 4K digital projectors and a surround sound system with 45 speakers.

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