Aquarians
| Aquarians | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Michael M. McGuire |
| Written by | Michael M. McGuire |
| Starring | Chandler Massey Shane Coffey Tracey Fairaway Richard Riehle James DeVita Colleen Madden Pete Schwaba |
| Distributed by | Indie Rights |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Aquarians is a 2017 American independent drama film written and directed by Michael M. McGuire. The film stars Chandler Massey and Shane Coffey as estranged brothers who reconnect after a family tragedy in rural Wisconsin.[1]
Plot
Aquarians follows Daniel, a seminary student who returns to his hometown to serve as a deacon at his family’s church. While home, he reconnects with his estranged brother Jacob, who lives a reclusive life in the surrounding wilderness. As the brothers confront past trauma and loss, their relationship is tested by differing ideas about faith, responsibility, and forgiveness.[2]
Cast
- Chandler Massey as Daniel
- Shane Coffey as Jacob
- Tracey Fairaway as Nicole
- Richard Riehle as Father Rob
- Melissa Nearman as Jennifer
- Colleen Madden as Sally Larsen
- James DeVita as Bart Sheraski
- Pete Schwaba as Tom Marx
Production
The film was written and directed by American Film Institute graduate Michael M. McGuire and was shot on location in Wisconsin.[3]
Release
The film was released in the United States in 2017 and later received a digital release on Amazon Prime Video on December 21, 2018. The digital release was handled by Indie Rights.[4]
The film won the award for Best Wisconsin Feature at the Beloit International Film Festival. Chandler Massey received a nomination for Best Performance at the Twin Cities Film Fest, where the film was also runner-up for the Audience Award during its world premiere screening.[5]
Reception
Aquarians received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Writing for Film Threat, Alex Saveliev described the film as a restrained, wintertime drama about forgiveness and faith, praising its atmosphere and the performances of its two leads.[6]
Writing for ScreenAnarchy, Sebastian Zavala Kahn called the film “heartfelt and sincere,” while noting that its ambition occasionally leads to unresolved narrative threads.[7]
See Also
References
- ^ Saveliev, Alex (February 19, 2019). "Aquarians". Film Threat. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Saveliev, Alex (February 19, 2019). "Aquarians". Film Threat. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Josh Heath, "Dramedy on Ice: Frozen Wisconsin Is the Star of Aquarians", Isthmus, https://isthmus.com/arts/movies/frozen-wisconsin-is-the-star-of-aquarians/
- ^ Lewis, Errol (December 19, 2018). "Aquarians Starring 'Days of Our Lives' Actor Chandler Massey Receives Digital Release on Amazon". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (December 19, 2018). "Aquarians Starring 'Days of Our Lives' Actor Chandler Massey Receives Digital Release on Amazon". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Saveliev, Alex (February 19, 2019). "Aquarians". Film Threat. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Zavala Kahn, Sebastian (January 28, 2019). "Review: Aquarians (2017), a heartfelt and sincere indie drama". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved December 11, 2025.