Movies by Riley Stearns

Riley Stearns is a rising voice in independent American cinema, known for his meticulously crafted, darkly comedic films that delve into the absurdities of modern life. With a talent for creating tense, unsettling atmospheres, Stearns' work often explores themes of identity, isolation, and the human capacity for violence lurking beneath the surface of everyday existence. Stearns made his feature debut in 2014 with the critically acclaimed Faults, a psychological thriller that follows a cult deprogrammer hired to extract a young woman from an mysterious group. This early work showcased Stearns' ability to craft compelling character studies, infusing even the most bizarre situations with a deadpan sense of humor and an underlying sense of unease. He would go on to refine this approach in films like The Art of Self-Defense, a martial arts-infused black comedy that skewers toxic masculinity, and his most recent outing, the sci-fi tinged Dual, which uses the premise of a government-mandated self-clone to explore themes of individuality and the human need for connection. Throughout his filmography, Stearns has demonstrated a distinct visual style, favoring long takes, sparse set design, and a muted color palette that heightens the sense of isolation and unease pervading his narratives. His meticulous attention to detail and the way he subverts genre tropes to deliver unexpected, thought-provoking stories have earned him a reputation as a filmmaker unafraid to challenge his audience and push the boundaries of independent cinema.