Studio Soho Distribution is delighted to announce that Alex Pettyfer’s directorial debut BACK ROADS will be available on digital download from 15th June and on DVD and VOD from 29th June. Based on Tawni Odell’s novel of the same name, who also penned the screenplay with Adrian Lynne, BACK ROADS is a raw, emotional family drama that is both moving and powerful and announces a new directorial voice in Pettyfer.
After his mother goes to jail for shooting and killing his abusive father, Harley Altmyer is left to care for his three younger sisters in a rural Pennsylvania town. The uneducated Harley works two dead-end jobs to preserve what’s left of his family, including the rebellious, sexual 16-year- old Amber. Angered and traumatized by his painful past, Harley finally begins to feel hope when he connects with an older, married woman, and they embark on an affair. When shocking family secrets emerge, Harley’s life begins to spiral downward, leading to a devastating conclusion that impacts the entire community.
In his directorial debut, Pettyfer deals masterfully with a layered screenplay by Tawni O’Dell and Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal) and elicits moving performances from the entire cast. Pettyfer proves as capable in front of the camera as he is behind it, playing a sensitive, brooding young man who must confront the lingering effects of abuse and hardship. Back Roads explores pain, trauma, hopelessness, and the complex nature of love itself.
BACK ROADS features an incredible ensemble cast helmed by Pettyfer including Jennifer Morrison (The Report), Juliette Lewis (A Million Little Pieces) and Nicola Peltz (Our House).
