Actor Alec Baldwin and “Rust” producers have released their new film “Supercell” despite the actor’s impending criminal trial.
The fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021, and the two counts of involuntary manslaughter the actor was charged with in January 2023 might have distracted from the release of the new film, which was released quietly on March 17 in theaters and on demand.
Alec Baldwin and ‘Rust’ Producers Release ‘Supercell’ Featuring The Late Anne Heche
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The disaster film was released on the March 17 – 19 weekend in several independent cinemas and video-on-demand; however, Baldwin has not done any press for the film. He did share one Instagram post to mark the release, reminding followers that it was one of the last projects filmed by late actress Anne Heche.
As The Hollywood Reporter noted, the film is being released in the U.S. by Saban Films, who squired domestic rights to the film before Hutchins passed away in October 2021. Although Baldwin’s star power would have brought in audiences before the fatal shooting, Comscore data revealed that “Supercell” only opened in twenty theaters nationwide.
Comscore data reveals that the disaster film earned $6,840 between the March 17 – 19 weekend, which is not completely unexpected given the limited amount of advertising that went into the film. Although it’s not going to rake in big numbers at the box office, it did jump to the number seven spot on the iTunes movie rental chart.
What Is The Movie ‘Supercell’ About?
The film is co-written and directed by Herbert James Winterstern and marks his first feature debut. The movie tells the story of a teenager named William, played by Daniel Diemer, who runs away from home. William is enamored by the same storms that claimed the life of his father, a famous storm chaser.
William teams up with his father’s old friend Roy, played by Skeet Ulrich, and a greedy tour company owner named Zane, who just happens to be played by Baldwin. While William attempts to learn more about his father, the “Supercell” storm begins closing in on them. Anne Heche plays William’s mother who gave up her career as a scientist after her husband’s death.
Although Baldwin has not been vocal about the release of his new film, he did speak to The Hollywood Reporter in June 2021 about the effects they were able to pull off with a limited budget. “I haven’t been running across a field trying to chase the sun for a shot in quite a while,” he said at the time.
“They don’t have money for a lot of effects, this is not a Spielberg production. They have to find ways to simulate it and render it at a low cost, and they did that,” he continued. “We’d say ‘action’ and get out of this van and oh my god, they were blowing this stuff on us like you couldn’t believe it.”
‘Supercell’ Fails To Impress Critics But Manages To Woo Audiences
As of this writing, “Supercell” has a 50% score from critics but a 93% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Although the acting of Anne Heche and Alec Baldwin received praise from critics, most criticized the film itself.
“The storm-chasing in this modestly budgeted feature never amps up the excitement the way it needs to. And the human drama (though well-intended) isn’t strong enough to carry us through,” wrote Keith Garlington of Keith & the Movies.
“The epic melodramatic tone leaves the movie without nuance, which means that there’s virtually no sense of realism in either the emotions or action. So while it’s familiar and watchable, it’s also contrived and sentimental,” wrote Rich Cline of Shadows on the Wall.
Steven Prokopy of Third Coast Review wrote, “When Baldwin and Heche pop up on the screen, they clearly mark themselves as the professionals on set, which at least gives us something to lock onto for brief moments. Beyond that, Supercell is a trainwreck that I’m glad I caught up with.”
Still, there were more than a few fans who appreciated the film. Ryan B. commented, “What a surprisingly enjoyable movie! When it comes to Storm Chasing the only real movie we have is Twister (Into the Storm was a letdown), so this was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. From a movie critic’s standpoint, I could see this product lacking some cinematic points. As an easy-going movie scrub like me, I don’t regret paying the $7 to watch this film.”
Another viewer named Manoj M. added, “Excellent tornado chasing movie like Twister, but more character-driven and an Amblin heart! Love it!” Maryela P. also enjoyed the film, writing, “This film was good! Just the right amount of action. It reminded me of twister as far as the suspense goes. I liked how real it looked to the point where you felt you were standing right underneath the tornado. Overall, a wonderfully made film!”
“Supercell” is now available in limited theaters and on video-on-demand.
