Rehab. Relapse. And repeat. This is the dark premise behind South of Sanity, a uniquely dark and often graphic black comedy, premiering on digital platforms July 1st from All Channel Films.
This independently shot film concerns the world getting all sorts of screwed up before the pandemic. Your guide on this scorched trail through rural Alabama is Lacy Hilgreen (Shy Pilgreen), a recovering addict, who is always out of money and out of choices - which is why she is finding herself begging for a job at her brother’s store upon her arrival back home from Los Angeles.
Times are hard, ya know? And with these characters, they are going to get a whole lot worse.
But her dysfunctional family, winding their way through the flea market circuits of the Deep South with their meth operation, has little to no compassion. Well, they do appreciate her rack, but their booth is no place for a woman who wants to stay clean. All bets for recovery are off; however, when her camera - the one which has all her confessionals and her sexcapades with a friend of the family - goes missing, she panics.
Starring Shy Pilgreen, Robert Peters, Jennifer Pierce Mathus, Shacetta 'Tay' Listenbee, and Robert Peters, South of Sanity is funny and raw; offering viewers glimpses at a life most would not want to live BUT the black comedy is absolutely committed to its vision of white trash running wild.
Written and Directed by Robert Peters and Shy Pilgreen and based on some real awful shit, South of Sanity spans the years from 2018 to 2022 as Lacy tries to navigate “wholesale” customers at the Hilgreens’ booth and her own family. She is not always successful and the roadblocks along the way are both comedic and full of tragedy: there’s just no escaping yourself, you know?
Lacy is joined on her journey by her brother Mike and sister-in-law Ila, who run the family flea market, her hellion nephews Rowdy and Ryder, wild niece Rebel, Ila's cousin and resident alcoholic Jeff, her cousin Tori, the only "sane" one in the family, and a one-night stand that lasts way longer than planned.
Truncated by the pandemic, this shot on video film walks a fine line between redemption and farce as Lacy stumbles time and time again to find her place in a world which is growing more and more uncaring. The comedic bits are often sharp, based on real situations, and disturbingly familiar to anyone who has traveled below the Mason-Dixon line.
The sometimes riotous new comedy South of Sanity is released on digital platforms this Saturday from All Channel Films. Sweet Home Alabama? I don’t think so. This one is a wild ass ride through the dirrrty south.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
Director: Robert Peters; Shy Pilgreen
Writer: Hannah Alline; Shy Pilgreen; Jason White
Cast: Shy Pilgreen; Robert Peters; Jennifer Pierce Mathus
Genre: Comedy
Tagline: Sometimes the environment that is almost impossible to live in is the one that makes you feel the most alive
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: All Channel Films
Official Site:
Release Date: July 1, 2023 (Digital)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Spanning the years 2018 to 2022, follows Lacy Hilgreen, a recovering addict, and her dysfunctional Alabama family through the flea market circuits of the Deep South.
