Between "Laurence Anyways" and last year’s acclaimed and Cannes prize-winning "Mommy," the prolific Xavier Dolan directed "Tom At The Farm." Like his previous efforts, it hit the festival circuit, but it appears the film’s darker tone turned some off, and not much has been heard about the movie since 2013. It opened in Canada and other international territories, but a U.S. distribution deal proved elusive. But Amplify has finally snapped it up and a new U.S. trailer for the picture is here.
Dolan takes the lead role in this psycho-sexual thriller that would make Alfred Hitchcock proud. He plays the titular Tom who, following the death of his lover, Guillaume (Caleb Landry Jones, in a very small uncredited role), goes to his family’s rural farm for the funeral. But it turns out they didn’t know anything about Guillaume’s sexuality or partner. Tom doesn’t out his former lover, but things take a dark turn when Guillaume’s brother, Francis, starts to aggressively pursue his suspicions. It’s a fascinating shift of gears from Dolan both in front of and behind the camera, and an effort we called a mix of "Strangers On A Train" and the works of Patricia Highsmith. Before he did his aspect ratio tricks with "Mommy," they were equally impressive on ‘Farm’ first.
READ MORE: Watch: Explore The Films Of Xavier Dolan With This Extensive 11-Minute Video Essay
“It’s hard to say it in a fully modest way, but I was truly puzzled as to how exactly ‘Tom At The Farm’ had never landed distribution in the US," Xavier Dolan said in a press release. "To me, it was by far my most accessible film; I mean, it’s a 90-minute psychological thriller, and it’s sort of gory but then very conventional too. I’m obviously psyched that Amplify Releasing has taken ‘Tom’ under their wing. But the topic remains truly relevant – can intolerance and psychological violence ever be dull? – and I’m proud to know the American public will be able to see it. And hopefully, like it.”
"Tom At The Farm" opens this summer. Watch below.