‘The Rivals of Amziah King’: Matthew McConaughey’s Comeback Undercut by Reshoots, Distribution Woes, and Too Much Movie

Matthew McConaughey makes his long-awaited return to movies after a six-year absence with Andrew Patterson’s “The Rivals of Amziah King,” playing a backwoods Oklahoma beekeeper, banjo player, and self-described “king of a man” who reconnects with his estranged foster daughter, Kateri, played by Angelina LookingGlass.

The story mixes father-daughter drama with a rural crime thriller, as Amziah’s honey business comes under threat from mysterious rivals. Kurt Russell co-stars as a blustery local named Dub. However, things take a surprisingly violent turn amid its homespun setting, including grisly deaths that seem to belong in an entirely different movie.

This is an odd follow-up for Patterson, whose acclaimed 2019 debut, “The Vast of Night,” shot for only $500k, showed a filmmaker with a real knack for atmosphere and visual storytelling. McConaughey reportedly chose the role over higher-paying projects because he wanted to play this character, and his sincerity does come through. You believe he likes Amziah, this big, goofy, wounded man who wants to be useful to the people around him. There’s something appealing about that. McConaughey has always been better when he’s allowed to be a little strange.

Unfortunately, the film’s oddball tonal shifts, excessive camera trickery, and increasingly convoluted violence work against the story. Patterson seems so determined to keep surprising us that the excess overstays its welcome. Most troublesome of all, McConaughey largely disappears during the second half, leaving LookingGlass to carry the film — which turns out to be a mistake. She’s fine, but ‘Amziah King’ loses its center of gravity.

It’s been an odd journey for this film, which came out of last year’s SXSW with rave reviews. Normally, that would mean a bidding war, or at the very least, some traction in the indie space. Five months later? Its own financier, Black Bear, decided to release the film themselves. The reason given was “no immediate buyers” and the “wonky economics of the acquisition business nowadays.” Translation: SXSW hype might have been a mirage. After having seen the film, I now know why.

The film, shot in 2023, delayed its unveiling until very recently. The reason? Reshoots, and backers who, unsatisfied with Patterson’s cut of the film, decided to test-screen their own version — which ended up backfiring when Patterson’s cut received the better scores.

Whichever version it is, this tricked-up, overly thought-out drama ultimately drowns out our interest. It’s not surprising that ‘Amziah King’ has plenty of ambition to spare. Patterson, 44, is a talent to watch, but he sadly overdoes it here.