Watch your back, Marvel! The coolest cinematic universe is actually happening inside a tiny production studio that's making some of the most thought-provoking science fiction around.
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00:00Watch your back, Marvel. The coolest cinematic universe is actually happening inside a tiny
00:05production studio that's making some of the most thought-provoking science fiction around.
00:09The Marvel Cinematic Universe has developed a knack for snagging independent filmmakers with
00:13a lot of buzz and critical acclaim to join its stable of filmmakers. Before James Gunn was at
00:18the helm of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, for example, he was writing B-movie schlock like
00:22Tromeo and Juliet, and he's not the only one getting a big-budget promotion. Fan reactions
00:27are typically divided about this phenomenon. Some worry that this marks the end of independent
00:31visions in favor of corporate-driven storytelling, while others are thrilled to see directors that
00:36they love getting massive paychecks. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, it's undeniable
00:40that Moon Knight and low-key Season 2 directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have never lost
00:45sight of what put them on Marvel's radar in the first place. Benson and Moorhead are two-thirds
00:49of the production company Rustic Films, alongside David Lawson Jr. The trio's debut film, 2012's
00:55Resolution, was an indie darling, and it was also the start of their company's low-budget sci-fi
00:59cinematic universe. Benson and Moorhead have helmed the majority of films produced by Rustic,
01:04though they've also been joined by Jeremy Gardner and Christian Stella, who directed 2019's After
01:08Midnight, and Amy Simetz, who directed 2020's She Dies Tomorrow. Rustic's latest production,
01:14Things Will Be Different, is a time-travel thriller directed by Michael Felker that
01:18recently played at the Overlook Film Festival, and it's just the latest bit of evidence that
01:22when it comes to interconnected sci-fi universes, Rustic is giving Marvel a run for its money.
01:27Things Will Be Different is Felker's feature directorial debut. He previously served as the
01:31co-editor on Benson and Moorhead's films for the last decade. If you've seen Rustic productions
01:36like Spring or The Endless, then you're already acutely aware of Felker's editing style. He
01:41successfully weaves the deep lore and twisty science rules of each individual film into a
01:46coherent tapestry of brilliance. In Things Will Be Different, Felker is now writing, producing,
01:50and directing in addition to editing. The plot is about two estranged siblings seeking
01:54refuge in a farmhouse that exists in a fluctuating timeline. The majority of the
01:58film takes place in the farmhouse and nearby land, echoing the lo-fi sensibilities of prior
02:03Rustic productions. This consistency makes it clear why Felker has been Benson and Moorhead's
02:08go-to co-editor for so many years, while Things Will Be Different also establishes his own unique
02:13directorial voice with the screen.
02:15"...This is it."
02:16Underneath the time-traveling mysteries and a litany of unanswered questions is an
02:20emotionally charged look at a strained bond between siblings. Time travel is the vehicle
02:24that Felker uses to tell an incredibly human story about regret and reparation. He presents
02:29a stripped-down approach to the genre that ensures that the audience will actually care about the
02:33people at the center. Rustic's track record might have you wondering if there is such a thing as an
02:37auteur production company. Despite the various directors who have worked under this banner,
02:41the Rustic touch is always unmistakable. Benson, Moorhead, and Lawson Jr.'s consistent involvement
02:46makes each film feel like they're all connected, even if they're not. While multi-billion dollar
02:50corporations are fixated on making various plot lines blend into one sprawling narrative,
02:54Rustic's cinematic universe is prioritizing probing themes, unique perspectives,
02:59and thought-provoking storytelling. Benson and Moorhead have incorporated their indie style
03:03into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they'd already established their own sci-fi universe
03:08with Rustic. Lawson Jr. and Moorhead also appear in Things Will Be Different, but don't let their
03:13white-collared shirts fool you, as these aren't the same characters from their previous films.
03:18Instead, Felk are elected to use the signature costuming in a new way,
03:21as he presents the familiar faces as members of an entirely different organization.
03:25Some might argue that this is a sign of a multiverse, but maybe it's nothing more
03:29miraculous than Rustic just holding true to its motto of making movies with friends.