What is Rebirth? Just kidding, it’s a trick question. I didn’t even know the answer until the first trailer for the latest Netflix original hit the Web — four days before it premieres on the streaming platform! But it heralds good things to come down the road.
Basically, Netflix is collaborating directly with various filmmakers on a number of indie films. Rebirth is one of them. The film, described as a twisted psychological thriller from writer-director Karl Mueller (The Devil’s Hand) and producer Ross Dinerstein, tells of Kyle, a white-collar suburban father. Dulled by his regular day-to-day, Kyle joins a self-actualization program called Rebirth after his wild and crazy buddy from college surprises him with success stories from Rebirth. Kyle’s journey, however, isn’t as positive.
Fran Kranz, Adam Goldberg, Kat Foster, Nicky Whelan, Harry Hamlin, Andrew J West, Sheryl Lee, Pat Healy, Eric Ladin, Luis Geardo Méndez, and Steve Agee star in the cast. Watch the Rebirth trailer below:
According to Deadline, Netflix acquired this series of indie films for around $2 million, while a report from EW puts the service’s overall total for 2016 on original content in the $6 billion range. The trade also reports other titles in this deal include The Most Hated Woman In America starring Melissa Leo, and an electronic music film from first-time feature film director Walter Robot.
Rebirth will be a test round of sorts to see if audiences are willing to take to this initiative, although it seems like a great idea for both Netflix, which is constantly on the lookout for new original content, and the filmmakers, whose work will get the Netflix logo stamped on their trailers.
Rebirth will premiere on July 15. Here’s the official plot synopsis:
A twisted psychological thriller from writer/director Karl Mueller (Mr. Jones) and producer Ross Dinerstein (The Pact, The Nightmare). Long-lost buddy Zack gets suburban dad Kyle on a bus to a Rebirth seminar, sending him down a rabbit hole of psychodrama, seduction and violence.
