Friday Flicks: ‘Tully’, ‘Strangers of the Earth’, ‘Bad Samaritan’
Friday Flicks returns with a look back at the indie titles that hit screens in early May 2018. The column also revisits the industry stories that defined that week and checks in on how those releases and events aged.
Last Friday of that stretch, actor and comedian Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault. The verdict capped a two-week trial centered on allegations he had drugged and assaulted Andrea Constand in 2004, one of the 60 women to have accused Cosby of similar crimes. Observers labeled the outcome a landmark in the post-MeToo period.
Following this news, Variety reported that the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had voted to expel actor Bill Cosby as well as director Roman Polanski (Rosemary's Baby) from its membership. The decision followed the earlier removal of Harvey Weinstein after the harassment allegations that surfaced the previous October. The Academy framed the moves as accountability measures, though questions lingered about timing.
May also marks Zombie Awareness Month, an annual campaign organized by the Zombie Research Society that encourages preparation and discussion around fictional zombie scenarios. The observance has continued every year since, with fans revisiting the same rankings of classic zombie films and debates over slow versus fast undead.
With the larger headlines addressed, the focus shifts to the films themselves. The weekend slate included a grounded portrait of new motherhood in Tully, a high-stakes crime romance in Racer and the Jailbird, a reflective documentary on pilgrimage in Strangers on the Earth, and a tense thriller in Bad Samaritan, alongside the timely documentary RBG.
Tully (Focus Features)
Released May 4, 2018, Tully marked the third collaboration between screenwriter Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman. The story centers on Marlo, played by Charlize Theron, a mother of three who receives unexpected help from a night nanny named Tully, played by Mackenzie Davis. Their evolving relationship explores the exhaustion and unexpected intimacy of early parenthood. Generally positive reviews praised the film for portraying motherhood without sentimentality, and Theron received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
Racer and the Jailbird (Super LTD)
Director Michaël R. Roskam’s crime drama unfolds in Brussels, where gangster Gigi, played by Matthias Schoenaerts, meets Bibi, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, a wealthy racing driver. Their instant connection collides with Gigi’s criminal past and the authorities closing in. The film balances kinetic racing sequences with a tragic love story that never fully escapes its circumstances.
Strangers on the Earth (First Run Features)
In this documentary directed by Tristan Cook, American cellist Dane Johansen walks the Camino de Santiago, Europe’s most popular pilgrimage route. The film captures sweeping landscapes, a solo-cello score built around Bach interpretations, and conversations with fellow travelers. Strangers on the Earth frames the physical and spiritual dimensions of long-distance walking as a way to examine personal renewal.
Bad Samaritan (Electric Entertainment)
David Tennant, previously seen in Fright Night, plays a child kidnapper in Dean Devlin’s thriller. Two thieves break into a house and discover evidence of captivity, forcing a decision between fleeing or confronting the man responsible. Released May 4, 2018, the film earned roughly $3.4 million at the domestic box office. Mixed reviews cited pacing problems and tonal shifts that undercut its tension.
RBG (Magnolia Pictures)
The documentary traces Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s path from Brooklyn to the Supreme Court, highlighting both her legal contributions and her emergence as a pop-culture figure. After Ginsburg’s death in September 2020, the film received a theatrical re-release with proceeds directed to the ACLU Women’s Rights Project.
Post-Release Legacy of Tully
Eight years later, the film’s focus on maternal mental health continues to resonate with ongoing discussions about postpartum support. Critics at the time singled out the realistic depiction of exhaustion, and Theron’s performance drew major award nominations that underscored the role’s emotional weight.
Camino de Santiago in Popular Media
The pilgrimage route featured in Strangers on the Earth keeps drawing international walkers seeking reflection. Recent travel programs and festival screenings still reference the 2018 documentary, extending its reach into 2026 programming.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Documentary Re-Releases
After Ginsburg’s passing, RBG returned to theaters with proceeds supporting the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. The re-release reinforced the film’s dual portrait of legal achievement and unexpected celebrity.
David Tennant Thriller Roles
Bad Samaritan positioned Tennant as a child kidnapper and serial killer, a deliberate departure from lighter fare. Subsequent performances have continued to explore darker material, even as the 2018 release drew mixed notes on pacing and tone.
Together, these releases and the week’s headlines offer a snapshot of 2018 cinema and industry reckoning. The films remain available through streaming and repertory screenings, while the Academy expulsions and Ginsburg documentary’s later life illustrate how stories from that spring continued to unfold.
