Anywhere (2025) - Death and Desperation in Oklahoma

Playwright Adam Seidel's feature film debut, Anywhere, takes familiar noir elements cast against a rural backdrop and delivers them with unexpected twists and sometimes shocking violence. The set-up is a classic one: roughneck John comes home from his road gig only to discover that his wife, Syd, may have hooked up with his abusive older brother. The brothers confront each other and the ensuing brawl leads to a sudden murder which necessitates a messy cover up. Though they hide their tracks inexpertly, John and Syd do buy themselves enough time to find somewhere new; some place far from prying local eyes. Their trust and relationship begin to fray as guilt, personal ambition, and the realities of the world away from home come crashing into their lives.

Anywhere could easily be thought of in the vein of early Coen Bros. films (or Raimi's A Simple Plan) with its take on crime story tropes and regional specificity. There's a wry undercurrent of humor coursing below the surface of the film and its characters, particularly some of the supporting ones, exhibit a charming degree of folksy quirkiness. However, Seidel's film never erupts into full throated comedy and the moments of violence, while outrageous at times, maintain their gravity. Joshua Burge (Vulcanizadora) is perfectly cast as John; his inherently haunted expression and guttural croak naturally lend themselves to a perpetually lonesome hard luck case. Hayley McFarland (Agnes) as Syd manages the challenging task of embodying a diminutive if determined small town girl who becomes brutally pragmatic and capably violent in her pursuit of a better life. Fortunately, Seidel takes the time to illustrate the uglier sides of Syd's daily routine that nudge her towards increasingly extreme actions. Part of what makes Anywhere work outside of genre thrills is how well it illustrates mundane desperation festering until it explodes. 

This is an indie film and does have some awkward moments. Not every conversation or character moment feels fully polished. However, there are some excellent supporting appearances — Sean Gunn stands out as a stomach churningly creepy landlord who winds up pushing the couple too far —and it's hard not to appreciate such a genuine sense of place. The Oklahoma of Anywhere is sparse without being bleak and the interiors (mostly trailers and taverns) have a surprising degree of wood paneled warmth despite the grim subject matter. For the most part, the tension in Anywhere simmers. The measured pace hangs heavy with unspoken issues and the dread of crimes uncovered. However, when events reach a head, Seidel isn't afraid to bare the dark hearts of his protagonists for all to see.

Anywhere has been making the festival rounds and is available NOW on VOD

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