Here’s an underrated gem that screened at this past January’s Sundance Film Festival. Not enough people are talking about it, but it’s well worth seeking out. It’s a cult classic in the making.
Set in a Mexican beach town, Sebastián Silva’s “Rotting in the Sun” is a darkly existential meta-comedy about a depressed filmmaker (also played by Silva) who has run out of options in life. That’s all you need to know. Don’t let anyone ruin this sharp satire on millennial life, co-starring social media star Jordan Firstman.
“Rotting in the Sun,” filled with toxically comedic narcissism, has been aptly described as being part of the “filthy filmmaking spirit of John Waters.” The plot is quite trippy, a skewering of the industry, a romance, a thriller, stoner comedy — you will have no idea where this one’s going.
The film is set to open, via MUBI, in theaters on September 8 before streaming on the platform September 15. A trailer has been released via IndieWire. I’ll have a more thorough review of this one when the release date nears.