MAGIC HOUR

(director/writer: Katie Aselton; screenwriter: Mark Duplass; cinematographer: Sarah Welden; editors: Stephanie Kaznocha, Kyle Boston; music: Zachary Dawes, Tyler Parkford; cast: Katie Aselton (Erin), Daveed Diggs (Charlie), Susan Sullivan (Erin’s Mother), D.J. “Shangela” Pierce (Drag Queen), Brad Garrett (Erin’s friend); Runtime: 80; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Emily A. Neumann; Duplass Bros. Production; 2025)

“A heartfelt indie romantic tale.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A heartfelt indie romantic tale about trying to find oneself while dealing with loss and grief in a magical place before moving on. It’s directed and stars Katie Aselton (“The Freebie”/”Black Rock”), in a film that she co-writes with her husband Mark Duplass.


Erin (Katie Aselton) to clear her head from her complicated marriage travels for the weekend to a beautiful isolated house in the desert near Joshua Tree, California. The chic house belongs to a friend (Brad Garrett), who comes by once in a while to see how she’s doing and offer his support. The big reveal comes in the first act-where we learn that Erin’s husband Charlie (Daveed Diggs) has recently died.
 
We see how much she misses her partner even if their marriage was less than perfect, as she constantly thinks about their relationship and what was right or wrong about it.

Though sometimes poignant, it was nevertheless too thin of a story to morph out on. But the performances by Aselton and Daveeds were outstanding, which made-up for any shortcomings in the script.

It played at the SXSW Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 4/10/2025  GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com