Watch Strange Weather

Strange Weather is a dramatic film from 2016 that boasts a powerhouse cast of actors, including Holly Hunter, Carrie Coon, and Kim Coates. The film, despite its all-star lineup, is a relatively low-budget indie flick that explores themes of love, loss, and grief. The movie opens with Holly Hunter's character, Darcy Baylor, struggling to come to terms with the suicide of her son, Walker. It's been seven years since his death, and Darcy still can't quite reconcile herself to the fact that he's gone. However, when she learns that a former colleague of hers, Mark Wright (played by the excellent Shane Jacobsen), has stolen one of her son's artworks and is now trying to pass it off as his own, Darcy decides to take action.

With her best friend, Byrd (played by the equally excellent Carrie Coon), in tow, Darcy travels across the deep South, piecing together clues about her son's life and work along the way. Along the way, they encounter a host of quirky characters, including Kim Coates' character, Clay, a rough-and-tumble biker who turns out to be a lot more than he seems.

As Darcy and Byrd make their way through small-town America, the film explores themes of grief, loss, and redemption. Darcy's never been able to move on from her son's death, but as she travels deeper into the heart of the South, she begins to realize that there's more to life than just mourning what's been lost. Byrd, too, finds herself struggling with her own demons, as she tries to come to terms with the fact that her own life hasn't turned out quite the way she expected.

But despite the film's heavy themes, Strange Weather is filled with moments of genuine warmth and humor. Holly Hunter, in particular, turns in an absolutely fantastic performance as the complex and deeply flawed Darcy. She brings a real honesty and vulnerability to the role, making it hard not to root for her as she tries to right the wrongs of the past. And Carrie Coon, as always, is a joy to watch. Her scenes with Hunter are some of the film's most poignant, as the two women grapple with their own demons and try to find their way forward.

Kim Coates, too, is a standout. His character, Clay, is initially presented as a bit of a redneck stereotype, but as the film progresses, we get to see that there's a lot more to him than meets the eye. Coates imbues the character with a real sense of depth and nuance, making him a genuine scene-stealer.

Of course, the real star of the show is the film's stunning cinematography. Director Katherine Dieckmann does a fantastic job of capturing the beauty and squalor of the deep South, showcasing everything from sprawling cotton fields to abandoned gas stations. The film is a genuine feast for the eyes, with its stunning imagery perfectly complementing the complex emotional journey that Darcy and Byrd are on.

In the end, Strange Weather is a thoughtful and heartfelt film that explores some weighty themes without ever feeling too heavy-handed. It's a genuine triumph, showcasing the talents of its cast and crew and making a strong case for the power of independent cinema. Whether you're a fan of Hunter, Coon, or just great filmmaking in general, Strange Weather is definitely worth checking out.

Strange Weather is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 57.