Vulcanizadora

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Vulcanizadora

Released May 2

1h 25m

Drama

Horror

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Popcornmeter

98%

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48 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Two friends trudge through a Michigan forest with the intention of following through on a disturbing pact. Once their plan goes shockingly awry, the haunting consequences of their failure can't stay hidden for long.

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Critics Consensus

Darkly funny even while tinged with mounting dread, Vulcanizadora is another micro-budgeted gem in Joe Potrykus' indie crown.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

The ending’s a downer, all right, but you might just smile too. Then feel bad about it. Then chuckle. Which is when you realize Potrykus has you right where he wants you.

May 12, 2025

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

Most of its impact comes from going into the movie without any preparation and feeling as if you’re watching a blank tabletop being filled in with puzzle pieces until a full picture emerges.

Rated: 3/4

May 2, 2025

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

Spasmodically funny, though hardly a comedy, “Vulcanizadora” is raw, moving and, briefly, horrifying.

May 1, 2025

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Chuck Bowen

Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)

This one might be a good first step for those curious about a filmmaker who hides earnestness and poignancy under a cloud of obstinacy.

Jun 20, 2025

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

He [Potrykus]reminds us that there’s still vitality in low-budget independent cinema, and his oddly sorrowful mindbender—flawed and fascinating—leaves its mark.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 27, 2025

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Edwin Arnaudin

Asheville Movies

Joel Potrykus is the standard-bearer for true independent cinema.

Rated: B+

May 16, 2025

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MB C

Two men retreat into the forest on a quiet, existential mission—but what begins as a journey of intention becomes a slow meditation on regret, loneliness, and the absurdity of human connection..... Vulcanizadora is visually patient and thematically ambitious, yet narratively opaque. With minimal dialogue and stretched-out silences, it leans into mood over momentum. Despite strong performances and some poetic visuals, the film often feels trapped in its own symbolism, offering more confusion than clarity...... An acquired taste for fans of abstract, slow-burn cinema—more compelling to dissect than to watch......

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/17/25

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Stephen C

Horror success in 1 hour and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

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Bryan C

Not good at all despite the high rating characters are uninteresting and boring and story is just lame wish I had my $4 back from renting it no idea how some of these movies get such high RT ratings

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

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James W

Woefully underwritten, imbalanced and slow. This IS NOT a comedy or even a black comedy. I hate when promoters mislabel films to trick you into something they think will sell better. This is a very dark drama. The little humor that is in it is mildly amusing. - at best. Short running time that plays reallllllly long mostly because of the poor structure and thin characters. It's a coin flip whether this was scripted or just improvised but what's on the screen just doesn't get it done. The core plot is intriguing but Potrykus just doesn't know what to do with it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

Full Review

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Vulcanizadora: Trailer 1

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Vulcanizadora: Teaser

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Synopsis

Two friends trudge through a Michigan forest with the intention of following through on a disturbing pact. Once their plan goes shockingly awry, the haunting consequences of their failure can't stay hidden for long.

Director: Joel Potrykus
Producer: Hannah Dweck, Matt Grady, Ashley Potrykus, Theodore Schaefer
Screenwriter: Joel Potrykus
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: Dweck Productions, Sob Noisse, Factory 25
Genre: Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 25m

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