Manic Behavior
Someone always seems to be acting a little manic. These films, each in their own way, depict the hysterical breakdowns and psychological pitfalls that their characters experience. Someone always seems to be HAVING AN EPISODE. Films from NoBudge Collection #007.
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SHITHEAD
Movie + 1 extra
A man with shit for brains struggles to cope with his strange condition. “SHITHEAD” directed by Riley Donigan, follows a young man on the brink of physical and psychological implosion. The opening sequence aptly foreshadows the portrait ahead. A log floats in the toilet while we overhear a phone...
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Bitches
Movie + 1 extra
After three influencers spend a weekend living off tequila and tainted taco meat, their behavior starts to inexplicably change. Boni Mata directs “Bitches,” a satire weaving absurd drama into an influencer eco-system during the days that follow a comped vacation. On her Instagram story, Kayla giv...
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Serve the Country
Movie + 1 extra
A fast-talking man claiming to be a former tennis prodigy navigates a series of skeptical encounters. “Serve the Country,” directed by Fabian Velasco and Milos Mitrovic, delivers both dark comedy and double meaning to the sport of tennis and the concept of stolen valor. Frantically strolling down...
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HEDON
Movie + 1 extra
A young man struggles against his demons in the age of social media and endless dopamine. Andi Lipo directs “Hedon,” a body-horror where masculine urges and porn addiction lead to a downward spiral. The young man gives Bella, his girlfriend, a ride to the airport. While she’s not looking, he scro...
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Stigmata
A retired magician turned aquatic fish salesman is visited by an obsessed fan. Ben Gordon’s “Stigmata” is a bizarre, fever-dream drama witnessing a man’s persistent effort to learn a forbidden spell. Brad Christian closes up his fish and supplies store for the night, but there’s a knock at the do...
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Flail
Movie + 1 extra
A distracted personal assistant frantically prepares for her boss’s birthday party. Ben Gauthier’s “Flail” hilariously dives into a young woman’s effort to complete an urgent errand as she battles a bombardment of phone calls, texts, and email notifications. Darting around L.A on a Saturday for b...
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Swordhaver
Movie + 1 extra
Men turn 26 and make having a sword their entire personality. Bobby McCoy directs “Swordhaver,” a comedic look at youthful detachment told through a man’s recent acquisition of a medieval blade. Played by McCoy, the man sits on the edge of a park and gazes at the Los Angeles skyline. He wears a c...
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There's No Werewolves in Newark
Movie + 1 extra
After a disillusioned EMT quits his job in Newark, he becomes entangled on a wild adventure that begins with a mysterious Craigslist ad. Fiona Kane’s “There’s No Werewolves in Newark” is a moody character study of a modern floater. Dead-ends double down for Bill when he’s dumped by his girlfriend...
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Trash Moth
Movie + 2 extras
A found footage compilation of a young drifter’s Mini-DV adventures. Michael Santos’s “trash moth” offers a series of vignettes discovered from a young man’s handycam that becomes progressively darker. Felix makes friends with a group of hooligans in hopes they will give him a beer. Next, he has ...
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GINGER BOY and The Purpose of Life on Earth
Movie + 1 extra
A perpetually stoned pothead floats past life’s responsibilities on a cloud of smoke until accidentally smoking an ounce of K2 and descending into an existential rabbit-hole of increasing perplexity. Spencer Witmer directs “GINGER BOY and The Purpose of Life on Earth,” a rich, experimental charac...
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Compounding Negativity
Movie + 2 extras
A young man achieves success on the internet. Alex Sovoda of Enzo the Magazine directs “Compounding Negativity,” a character comedy where a young man, played by Will Duncan, drops a drill freestyle that opens some new doors. After walking his date home, Will is approached by two young men who are...
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LACY_audition.tape_cocktailvilla.mp4
Movie + 1 extra
A young woman seeks verification. Pervers3cowgirls presents “LACY_audition.tape_cocktailvilla.mp4,” a sketch-style mockumentary set in England following a multi-talented scenester in her effort to reach new heights. Lacy submits an audition tape for Cocktail Villa—a supposed influencer reality TV...
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The Consequences of Taking Without Asking
Movie + 1 extra
A middle-aged man wants to become a world-renowned rapper under the stage name "Wum Dum Dilly Willy X2396YY" but his girlfriend strongly disapproves. Max DeFalco directs “The Consequences of Taking Without Asking,” a close look at the outcomes of a man’s delusional dreams and impulsive choices. I...
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People Person
Movie + 1 extra
A lonely chatterbox, fed up with the anti-social nature of the world, seeks to find himself a friend at all costs. Set in sunny Los Angeles, “People Person,” directed by Taylor Thompson, is an upbeat character study looking at social connections and interpersonal expectations. Immensely desperate...
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Steakhouse
When a conspiracy theorist’s internet goes out, he calls the cable company to fix the problem. Ft Langley directs “Steakhouse,” a bizarre sci-fi-inspired comedy where one man’s delusions lead to some questionable reactions toward his sudden visitor. Our main character wakes up at his desk; it see...
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WILK
Movie + 1 extra
A woman and her ex-boyfriend reconnect at the vet after their dog gets sick, as a new boyfriend experiences jealousy. “WILK,” directed by Peg, is an experimental comedy with its own absurd cinematic language and esoteric scene-building. Joseph watches from the car as his girlfriend, Tallie, is co...
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xx_luv.kitten_xx
Movie + 1 extra
Hustling up quick cash and alienating her loved ones, a struggling Twitch streamer stops at nothing to make it to an influencer meetup at Buffalo Wild Wings. Bobby McCoy directs “xX_luv.kitten_Xx,” an uncomfortably current character study that captures a type of youthful desperation that amalgam...
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Empath
Afflicted by a mysterious case of hyper-empathy, a young woman stumbles across a group that claims to treat the disorder. “Empath,” directed by Alec Moeller, is an engrossing character study lifted by a powerhouse performance by Betsey Brown. Moving through everyday life is a minefield of emotion...
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Friyay
Movie + 1 extra
Ellie doesn’t feel like going out even though it’s Friday night. Katie Colosimo directs “Friyay,” a social satire that considers the dilemmas of going out on a rainy night in Brooklyn. It’s Friday, darkness has fallen, and Ellie does the dishes. Despite what seems to be a quiet evening in the mak...
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The Length of Your Rage
After an angry fight with his boyfriend, Thomas walks across Manhattan to cool off. Juan Pablo Rivera Garza & Charlie Sosnick direct “The Length of Your Rage,” a charmingly ragged comedy oozing with strange encounters between NYC oddballs. So says an Inuit tradition about anger, the length of one...
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Next Stop
Movie + 1 extra
A woman turning 30 returns home dejected from life not living up to expectations. Chanel Dupree directs “Next Stop,” a surrealistic dark comedy that renders a dream-like quality in its melange of annoyances. She repeats affirmations to herself (“my destiny is bright and full”) while she avoids te...
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Ratking
Another lazy day in Los Angeles is undermined by strange occurrences. Eric Colonna directs “Ratking,” an enigmatic drama that observes a young couple in North East L.A. as they deal with an odd visitor. Under a greenish tungsten hue, we meet the woman as she recalls a disturbing dream. Later, a d...
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Close the Gap
During the 2020 BLM protests, a white protester loses his head trying to corral a group of fellow demonstrators. Alex Bliss directs “Close the Gap,” a satirical character study that boldly examines the loose ends of a young man’s mind amidst a high-tense moment. As he marches, he broadcasts live ...