Let’s get real, guys: we’ve been plagued by sequels and remakes for what has seemed like a millennium, if not more.

From a gritty, non-Disney version of The Jungle Book, to a sequel to Top Gun, and not to mention all the superheroes and dinosaurs currently rampaging across the cinema screens, you’ll feel hard-pressed to find variety.

But all hope’s not lost, folks – we’ve found some standalone films unaffected by sequelitis, and their trailers look promising and free of Marvel-related antics.

Take a look at the snippets from these five ‘alternative’ upcoming films, with some details on the plot courtesy of The Guardian:

Hearts Beat Loud:

Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman stars as the owner of a failing record store in Brooklyn whose resistance to change is driving his business into the ground. His daughter, played by Dope’s Kiersey Clemons, is one summer away from med school and the impending move is already starting to sting. As a way of bringing them together before they’re torn apart, he reinstates an old tradition: a jam session with the pair using their musical talents to create new music.

Aww. Doesn’t that just melt your heart?

Hereditary:

If you like horror movies, or Toni Collette, or both, look out for Hereditary, which is getting huge praise:

[Collette’s] gaining buzz for another matriarchal role, this time in even darker territory as a woman dealing with the death of her mother and the effect it has on her fractured family. It’s a film that’s already invited comparison to The Exorcist with horrified Sundance audiences calling it one of the scariest for some time.

Leave No Trace:

Since director Debra Granik broke out with 2010’s soulful drama Winter’s Bone, her output has been minimal … so expectations were high for her narrative return at this year’s Sundance. The result is another stark study of working-class America, this time centering on a father and daughter, played by Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie, who are surviving in the wilderness. But when authorities get involved, their fragile existence is in jeopardy.

Nail-biting!

Three Identical Strangers:

A set of identical triplets were separated at birth and adopted by three different families. Years later, through a set of unusual circumstances, they meet and once the excitement and confusion settles, they search for the real reason for their separation.

Don’t expect it to be straightforward, though – there will be plenty of twists and turns in this promising offering.

Eighth Grade:

Barring the unimaginative title, Eighth Grade looks like it’s got some substance and pretty much takes us back to our awkward years in high school:

This middle school-set drama promises to deliver an equally awkward and idiosyncratic look at a period in life usually served with a heavy coating of gloss. It was one of the best-reviewed titles at this year’s Sundance festival, marking the directorial debut of comedian Bo Burnham and following the misadventures of a girl preparing herself for the transition to high school.

So relatable – where was this film years ago when I was in Grade 8?

There you have it – if you’re looking for a flick that doesn’t feature capes or CGI T-Rexes, these might be right up your alley.

[source:guardian]