It has been over two years since writer-director Tony Tost’s “Americana” had its world premiere at the 2023 South By Southwest film festival. Now this rural genre smorgasbord is finally set for its official release on August 15th. But before it does, “Americana” recently kicked off Filmland 2025, an Arkansas based celebration of cinema presented by the Jeff Nichols led Arkansas Cinema Society.

“Americana” is a movie that can’t be summarized by a single label. Tost throws a little bit of everything at the screen. His film could rightly be called many things including a crime thriller, a heist comedy, a Western deconstruction, a stylish neo-noir, a trashy (although relatively tame) exploitation flick, and more. It unquestionably borrows (perhaps too heavily) from its obvious inspirations, most notably Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers. Yet it’s a surprisingly assured first feature from a filmmaker drawing from several of his own life experiences.

Set along the border of South Dakota and Wyoming but mostly shot in New Mexico, “Americana” leans into its unique setting both visually and narratively. The sparse, sunbaked territory adds a certain character that richly benefits the story. As for that story, it’s a non-linear yarn that Tost unfolds through a series of chapters. It features a wide array of colorful characters who function like puzzle pieces, each connecting together in unexpected ways.

Much of the story revolves around an ancient ghost shirt traced to the indigenous Lakota people. The movie begins with it in the possession of a wealthy collector played briefly but comically by Toby Huss. With a worth of around half a million dollars, the ghost shirt attracts the attention of a lot of people. Among them is a sleazy antiquities dealer named Roy Lee Dean (Simon Rex). Dean hires a local thug, Dillon MacIntosh (Eric Dane) to steal the shirt. But once Dillon discovers its worth, he considers selling it himself.

Elsewhere, Sydney Sweeney plays Penny Jo Poplin, bashful waitress with strawberry blonde hair, a noticeable stammer, and big dreams of moving to Nashville and becoming a country music singer. Paul Walter Hauser plays Lefty Ledbetter, a lonely lovelorn cowboy who frequents her diner. Over time the two development a amusingly sweet relationship. And after Penny Jo overhears Roy Lee making the deal with Dillon, they decide that getting the shirt first could be the answer to their dreams.

And elsewhere (again), a battered single mother named Mandy (played by pop star Halsey) flees an abusive relationship with Dillon, seeing the shirt as her ticket to a better life. In the process, she leaves behind her stubborn 11-year-old son Cal (Gavin Maddox Bergman) who is obsessed with Native American culture (the television version), so much so that he believes himself to be the reincarnation of Sitting Bull. Young Cal eventually crosses paths with Ghost Eye (Zahn McClarnon), the leader of an area Native American resistance group who soon find themselves hot on the shirt’s trail.

As you can tell, “Americana” has numerous parts moving in the same general direction. Yet to Tost’s credit, he maintains mostly unpredictable character arcs. Despite how familiar the movie sometimes feels, the characters take enough surprising turns to keep us guessing. As for the offbeat cast, Sweeney and Hauser are highlights with each giving solid low-key performances in a movie that cranks so much up to 10. Halsey also shines despite having the hardest to read character in the movie.

As Tost maneuvers his way towards the story’s inevitably violent finish, he lightly explores several themes. The most glaring features yet another patriarchy takedown that gets more obvious with every white male Tost kills off. But frankly no one should watch “Americana” in search of some deep sociopolitical insight. It’s best viewed as a routinely funny, fittingly violent, and stylishly made caper that’s cinematically seasoned with 70s, 80s, and even a touch of early 90s flavor. It’s a well-acted romp and an accomplished first feature from a filmmaker to keep your eye on.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS