Writer-director, Alex R. Johnson’s debut feature, Two Step played at this year’s South by Southwest film festival to much critical acclaim (and little confusion). As the old saying goes, “please the critics, and a distribution deal will follow” (or maybe that saying was made up just now), and follow a distribution deal has. Traverse Media will distribute Two Step in North America next year – being an indie film, the theatrical run will be limited, followed soon after by a release onto the entirety of the internet.
Kicked out of college, James visits Grams, his only remaining family, who dies shortly after his arrival. He finds consolation in the company of Grams’ neighbor, Dot, a dance teacher, as he figures out his next move. While settling Grams’ affairs, James learns she’s been the victim of the “grandparent scam” in which someone posing as James has been slowly bilking her out of thousands. But before James can go looking for the culprit, he shows up at the front door, desperate for money. The culprit, Webb, has his own problems in the form of Duane, who has ordered Webb to pay an old debt or else. And if Webb can’t get it from Grams, James will have to do – no matter who stands in his way.
If this description is bringing to mind Blue Ruin – another indie-thriller, helmed by a writer-director, which debuted at a film festival, and received much critical acclaim – that’s probably a good thing for Two Step. Once the former film got a VOD-based release, it gained more attention (not to mention praise), and the same could happen with Two Step.
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