It’s been a long time coming, but the trailer for Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King is finally here. The film, which combines bluegrass, crime families, father/daughter drama, a honey turf war, and beekeeping into an unusual but compelling package, premiered last year at SXSW to rave reviews for stars Matthew McConaughey and Angelina LookingGlass.
Here’s the synopsis from distributor Black Bear Pictures:
Deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. When Amziah’s estranged foster daughter unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew the connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah’s rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built.
Also in the cast are Kurt Russell, Cole Sprouse, Tony Revolori, Owen Teague, Rob Morgan, and Scott Shepherd.
Patterson is a talent on the rise. He broke out with the indie sci-fi mystery The Vast of Night, a retro alien invasion film that felt exponentially bigger by the time the credits rolled. It showed what he could do with a small budget and an even smaller cast, so I’m fascinated to see what he can do on a bigger platform.
The Rivals of Amziah King will hit theaters on August 14th.
