Et Tu (film)

Last updated
Et Tu
Et Tu poster.png
Poster
Directed byMax Tzannes
Written byMax Tzannes
Produced by
  • Richard Berger
  • Timothy Patrick Cavanaugh
  • Tyler Friesen
Starring
CinematographyJacob Souza
Edited byJacob Souza
Music byDavid San Miguel
Production
companies
XYZ Films
Dirty Shot Clean
4Leaf Productions
Distributed byBuffalo 8
Release dates
  • October 5, 2023 (2023-10-05)(Heartland)
  • July 25, 2025 (2025-07-25)(United States)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Et Tu is a 2023 American independent comedy horror-thriller film written and directed by Max Tzannes in his feature directorial debut. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Malcolm McDowell and filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is set around a regional theater production of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and follows the show's director as he is driven into madness. [1] [2] The film premiered at the Heartland International Film Festival on October 5, 2023 and was released in the United States on July 25, 2025 in theaters and on digital by Buffalo 8. [3] [4] It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Premise

Brent is not a happy director. For weeks, he's had to watch an awful play - his awful play. Adding insult to injury, he's convinced his wife is having an affair with his idiot leading man. Fortunately for Brent, the theater’s Janitor has been mopping the stage long enough to know a dark secret that may help rid him of his troubles. That is, so long as he’s willing to get some blood on his hands.

Cast

Release

On February 10, 2023, XYZ Films acquired the film's US sales rights. [5] [6] The film premiered both in-person and virtually at the Heartland International Film Festival on October 5, 2023, with the cast absent from the screenings due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. However, it would win the award for Best Horror Film at the festival. [7] It then screened at the Phoenix Film Festival in April 2024 and at the Los Angeles IFS Film Festival two months later. [8] In January 2025, Buffalo 8 acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the film and set it for a July 25, 2025 release both in theaters and on digital through Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home. [9]

Reception

Critical response

Julian Roman of MovieWeb wrote "Et Tu is meant for the theater crowd, as well as those who can appreciate a bloody twist to a hectic stage production," while praising the performances of Philips and Barnes, as well as the cinematography. [10] Samantha McLaren of Moviejawn wrote "Though it’s neither particularly scary nor laugh-out-loud funny (not that it’s trying to be either), Et Tu is marked by a clever, cunning streak of dark humor that it manages to maintain for most of its runtime. It takes a little while to really get going, but when it does, it will keep you firmly planted in your seat until the curtain call." [11] Abbie Bernstein of Assignment X gave the film a "B" rating while praising the cast's performances, and said that the film "is consistently wryly amusing and watchable, but almost never hilarious. Still, it is said that dying is easy, comedy is hard. It's clearly easier to make a straight slasher than one that is effectively humorous, but Tzannes and Company thread that needle here." [12] Enzo Barese of Gazettely gave the film a score of 6.5 out of 10 and wrote that it "succeeds wonderfully in its first half, using its claustrophobic theatrical setting and sharp direction to build a potent tale of artistic obsession. However, the film loses its nerve and momentum, opting for easy explanations over psychological ambiguity in its final act. It's a smart, entertaining film that doesn't quite stick the landing, but offers plenty of macabre fun for those with an appreciation for the backstage world." [13]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Heartland Film Festival October 2023Horror AwardEt TuWon [14] [15]
Phoenix Film Festival April 2024Best PictureEt TuWon [16]
Best ScreenplayMax TzannesWon
Los Angeles IFS Film FestivalJune 2024Best PictureEt TuWon [17]
Best Horror FilmEt TuWon
Best Actor Lou Diamond Phillips Won

References

  1. ↑ "ABOUT". 4Leaf Music Productions.
  2. ↑ "Lou Diamond Phillips gets candid on the twists of 'Et Tu'". NBC New York. July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  3. ↑ Bongiovanni, Domenica. "Films with Dan Wheldon's sons and Hollywood stars on deck for Heartland's 2023 festival". The Indianapolis Star.
  4. ↑ "Lou Diamond Phillips and Malcolm McDowell Star in Psychological Horror-Thriller ET TU, Arriving July 25". HorrorBuzz.
  5. ↑ "Heartland International Film Festival 2023 Lineup Features 2 Paul Mescal Movies". www.moviemaker.com. September 14, 2023.
  6. ↑ "4Leaf Productions is pleased to make public the engagement of XYZ Films as sales agent for our co-produced (with Dirty Shot Clean) feature film ET TU, starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Malcolm McDowell". Facebook. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  7. ↑ "32nd Heartland International Film Festival Announces Winners & Presents $60,000 in cash prizes". heartlandfilm.prowly.com.
  8. ↑ "PFF24 Program" (PDF). Pheonix Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  9. ↑ Navarro, Meagan (June 24, 2025). "Lou Diamond Phillips Gets Murderous Over Stageplay in 'Et Tu' Trailer". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ Roman, Julian (July 24, 2025). "Lou Diamond Phillips Leads a Killer Stage Production in the Dark Comedy 'Et Tu'". MovieWeb. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  11. ↑ McLaren, Samantha (July 25, 2025). "ET TU is a slyly comedic and bloody look at the madness of local theater". Moviejawn. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  12. ↑ Bernstein, Abbie (July 26, 2025). "Movie Review: ET TU". Assignment X. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  13. ↑ Barese, Enzo (July 27, 2025). "Et Tu Review: The Show Must Go On, By Any Means Necessary". Gazettely. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Heartland International Film Festival". Heartland Film.
  15. ↑ "Heartland International Film Festival Announces 2023 Award Winners, Including Simón and We Dare to Dream". www.moviemaker.com. October 17, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2024 Copper Wing Award Winners". Phoenix Film Festival.
  17. ↑ "Awards - IFS 2024". Independent Filmmakers Showcase.
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