Americana Trailer, Fun Facts & Review
Americana Synopsis:
Americana is a modern Western crime thriller that revolves around the illegal sale of a sacred Lakota Ghost Shirt in a small town in South Dakota. The story follows a reserved waitress, played by Sydney Sweeney, and a lovesick veteran, played by Paul Walter Hauser, as they search for the shirt. Their journey brings them into conflict with a ruthless criminal, played by Eric Dane, and an artifact dealer, played by Simon Rex. Along the way, they cross paths with a dedicated Indigenous leader, portrayed by Zahn McClarnon, who wants to get the shirt back for his people, as well as a woman, played by Halsey, who is running from a hidden past. This leads to a violent and darkly comedic showdown that examines issues of cultural recognition and the American dream.
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Release Date: In theaters August 15th, 2025
Americana Fun Facts:
Star-Studded Indie:
Though it is an independent movie, "Americana" features an unexpectedly strong and well-known cast, which includes Sydney Sweeney ("Euphoria" and "Anyone But You"), Paul Walter Hauser ("Black Bird" and "Richard Jewell"), Eric Dane ("Grey's Anatomy"), Zahn McClarnon ("Reservation Dogs"), Simon Rex ("Red Rocket"), and singer Halsey making her first appearance in a feature film.
From "National Anthem" to "Americana":
The film was first titled "National Anthem" during its production but ultimately changed to "Americana."
Indigenous Focus:
A key element of the story centers on a sacred Lakota Ghost Shirt, highlighting a significant emphasis on Native American culture and issues of reclaiming cultural identity, which enriches the crime storyline.
Directed by Tony Tost:
The film is written and directed by Tony Tost, who is well known for writing TV shows such as "Longmire" and "Damnation," which are contemporary western crime drama and period drama.
Long Production-to-Release Timeline:
"Americana" was filmed in 2022, premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival, Lionsgate acquired distribution rights in 2024, and the film is scheduled to be released in theaters on August 15th, 2025.
Filmed in New Mexico:
Although the story takes place in South Dakota, the main filming for "Americana" actually took place in New Mexico.
Americana Review:
Released on August 15th, 2025, Americana marks the first feature film of writer-director Tony Tost, presenting a contemporary Western that has difficulty establishing its direction. The movie includes a strong cast featuring Sydney Sweeney and Paul Walter Hauser, but it does not quite succeed in achieving its Tarantino-style concept. Although there are highlight moments, the film seems more like a mix of odd ideas instead of a unified storyline.
The story unfolds over five chapters and features a varied group of outcasts living in a small town in South Dakota. Their lives clash in a dramatic way when a valuable Native American "Ghost Shirt" makes its way into the black market. Sydney Sweeney plays Penny Jo Poplin, a reserved waitress with a stutter who aspires to be a country singer. She partners with a lovesick war hero, Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser), to claim the artifact for themselves. This decision draws the attention of a dangerous criminal (Eric Dane) and a tenacious Indigenous leader (Zahn McClarnon), along with a mysterious woman (Halsey) who is also involved.
The film's biggest strength is its cast. Sydney Sweeney adds a lovely and innocent quality to Penny Jo. Her connection with Paul Walter Hauser stands out to be the most captivating part of the movie. Hauser, stepping away from his usual funny roles, gives Lefty a sincere and touching quality. Pop singer Halsey also impresses in her first film role as Mandy, providing a raw and powerful emotional depth to her character. However, despite the talented cast’s strong performances, the script provides them with frustratingly little to work with; nevertheless, the group simply fall flat with their characters.
While the movie draws inspiration from Quentin Tarantino with its nonlinear storytelling mixed with stylish action, it doesn't quite capture the cleverness and intent of that filmmaker. The dialogue may sometimes be sharp, but they frequently come off as overused, and the multiple twists in the plot seem more like forced elements instead of clever surprises. The film addresses topics like cultural appropriation and the struggles of Indigenous groups, but these themes are often dealt with carelessly and get overshadowed by the messy and lengthy final confrontation.
In conclusion, Americana is a disappointing experience. It features a wonderful visual style, an amazing collection of classic country music soundtracks, and a skilled cast that strives to make the characters feel real. However, it fails to unify all these elements into a seamless narrative. The film offers plenty of potential but ends up delivering an unoriginal and chaotic result.