Cicada Song

Set in rural America, the excellent "Cicada Song" scrapes away at the thin veneer of a deceptively idyllic farming community, only to unearth a nefarious ugliness that transcends boilerplate small-town stereotyping.

Karen (Lyndsey Lantz) manages farm operations for a grateful husband and wife team (Joseph Bottoms and Kim Reed). At night, she returns home to her Latina partner, convenience store clerk Annabelle (Jenny Mesa). Lantz is handed a deeply dimensional character by writer/director Michael Starr, and she owns it at the highest level. Honest and tenacious, at one moment Karen vehemently protects the financial interests of her employers, while in the next she's loyally defending her girlfriend (and herself) from latent misogyny and explicit homophobia. A pall is cast when migrant worker Javier (Cesar Ramos) informs Karen that a little girl has gone missing from the field worker community. And with that, a perverse and encompassing pyramid scheme begins to seep up through the farmland soil.

"Cicada Song" is an engrossing mystery-thriller hybrid that shines a deft light on the plights of socially and economically marginalized groups facing entrenched greed and ignorance. But it's also simply a great storytelling vehicle on the most puerile of levels, marked by plot twists that surprise while somehow remaining truthful. Highly recommended. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)

This is a beautifully shot independent movie that takes you on a fascinating journey to places you usually don't get to see. The acting is superb and the director knows how to gather suspense in new and exciting ways. I highly recommend this one!

In an era where Hollywood seems to build more likable sociopaths, it's easy to forget what real evil is, how it can live next door to you, and how it can wear the faces of family and friends.

This simple mystery isn't studded with CGI, movie stars or lavish sets, but it is a chilling allegory for our times. As I watched, I thought, "How did we get like this as a people? When did this country fill up with monsters?"

I was riveted through the entire movie waiting to find out who done it and how it would all turn out! Beautifully shot in rural America with quaint old towns, gorgeous scenery and a bit of nostalgia the cinematography plays against the tension of the reality. Performances are spot on, especially the two leading ladies and supporting actress/actors. The fact that it has a message and spotlights continuing struggles in rural communities is just a bonus!

This movie starts a little slow, but once it gets going, it really grabs your attention until the end. There's not a lot of good thrillers centered around rural life, but this a pretty accurate portrayal. It's hard to talk about without giving away any spoilers, but definitely watch. Reminded me a lot of Winter's Bone.