Slamdance 2025: American Theater and Foul Evil Deeds

Fresh from Slamdance, we’re taking a look at a documentary following a conservative musical theater production and an ensemble dark comedy about people acting out in suburbia.

American Theater (Nicholas Clark & Dylan Frederick)

Brian is a musical theater director in Georgia. He is a gay Trump supporter, specializing in extravagant outdoor productions, who has been “canceled” for accusations of abusive behavior toward cast and crew, unsafe productions, racial insensitivity, and sexual harassment and abuse. Seemingly in response to this, he’s set out to produce a new show with an all-conservative cast and crew: an original musical about the 1692 Salem witch hunts. Two weeks out from opening night, Brian and his team race to put this show together; All the while, he is also running for a congressional seat in Florida and attends political fundraisers and debates.

In terms of technical ability, Clark and Frederick have delivered a smashing success. They allow moments to breathe, giving the cast and crew the opportunity to really speak for themselves. As they document this production, there were times I could have sworn I accidentally turned on a new Christopher Guest film I hadn’t heard about. The head turns and side eyes from some of the crew and even the cast, as well as the things they say, would be right at home in his films. From Brian describing himself as a “voice for the canceled conservative and actual marginalized people in the arts” to his favorite actress telling a reporter they’re “not trying to project this as something political,” and just wanting “to make great art” before winking at the camera, it’s almost stunning at times.

Despite its non-fiction subject matter, fans of documentaries and even mockumentaries will appreciate the morbid curiosity of American Theater. If you were riveted by the Willy Wonka ripoff event in Glasgow, you will love this.

Foul Evil Deeds (Richard Hunter)

Highlighting “the everyday cruelty of the banal suburban life,” Foul Evil Deeds is comprised of a series of vignettes following multiple stories. A school janitor, a laundromat owner and his family, a businessman who lives alone, a group of high school kids kicking a ball around on the way home, a younger couple, and an older couple. We bounce back and forth as these stories develop at varying paces, each culminating in some degree of wrongdoing. Therein lies the problem.

While ensemble and vignette films certainly can and do work, Foul Evil Deeds struggles to find its balance. Some stories are stronger than others, such as with the older vicar and his wife, but this strength in some emphasizes the uneven tone of the film as a whole. Though sprinkled with some dry humor throughout, it just didn’t seem to be enough to maintain momentum. Perhaps if each vignette was allowed to linger in its story a little longer before cutting to the next one, we would be able to feel a bit more invested. 

Though a valiant effort from debut writer-director Richard Hunter, Foul Evil Deeds just doesn’t quite live up to its name.

Check out more of our Slamdance 2025 coverage here!