The Willoughbys

(BRON Studios, Netflix)

Director: Kris Pearn Co-directors: Cory Evans, Rob Lodermeier

Release Date: April 22, 2020

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Synopsis: Tired of their neglectful parents, the four Willoughby children set out to banish their folks and raise themselves, leading to a series of darkly bizarre adventures.

Director Talk: “I never wanted the film to feel mean, even though there were dark things in the film. I also never wanted the film to feel affected. I wanted all the characters to be optimistic and have an earnestness because that’s what I find funny.” — Kris Pearn

The Word: “Though it tends to feel disjointed as a whole, The Willoughbys thrives when it embraces its grim plot and lets mischief reign.” — Natalia Winkleman, New York Times

Nomination Chances: Despite its critical success and innovative visuals, the film’s relative obscurity in such a competitive year may diminish its chances, but don’t count it out yet. The story’s neglectful and downright abusive parents are also hard to stomach.