Andrew Patterson’s first feature, The Vast of Night, was an unexpected delight and I can truthfully say the same of his second feature, The Rivals of Amziah King
. Written and directed by Patterson, The Rivals of Amziah King brings Matthew McConaughey back to the screen after a six-year absence. Charming as ever, the actor lights up every scene with his presence as the title character, a humble beekeeper who plays in a band. He’s delighted when, after an accident involving Tony Revolori’s banjo-playing character, he discovers Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), who was his foster daughter, is back in town.
The Rivals Of Amziah King Is Delightful & Moving
Patterson not only knows how to set up the storyline and the payoff that will come in the second half, but understands that the journey to get there is half the fun. The film’s opening scene has one of the best introductions of a character in recent memory: Amziah and his band playing at a fast food drive-through. It immediately gives us insight into Amziah’s vibrant personality (he never stops talking but it’s part of what endears him to us) and the importance of music in the film.
By the end of the scene, Amziah will have learned that someone has been stealing local honey and entire colonies of bees. For what, exactly, is something we find out later on when that story comes back into play and drives the rest of the film to its final point. Until then, though, The Rivals of Amziah King is more than comfortable in its setting as Amziah brings Kateri into the fold and teaches her how to bee keep and about the bees themselves.
…when Kateri is tasked with finding out who’s stealing the bees, LookingGlass showcases a quiet, understated perseverance.
Patterson’s film is lyrical, and Amziah’s job as beekeeper not only serves as the grounding point of the narrative but as a poetic embrace of nature and community. Every movement and piece of dialogue is deliberate in building that community. That translates to scenes consisting of fast-paced energy — Amziah and his friends working together in rhythmic harmony to get stuff done — and quiet moments that see Amziah and Kateri in a field, the bees swirling on and around them.
It’s gorgeously rendered thanks to the cinematography by M.I. Littin-Menz, whose soft, clear lighting brings a homey and natural feel to the film’s aesthetic. And I can’t say enough good things about The Rivals of Amziah King’s music, which soars and had me tapping my foot along with the songs. It offers a wondrous feeling that is even more powerful when the music disappears for a long stretch of time after the midway point. It gives the film its warmth that is only compounded by the heart provided by Amziah and Kateri’s relationship.
Patterson’s film is lyrical, and Amziah’s job as beekeeper not only serves as the grounding point of the narrative but as a poetic embrace of nature and community.
The film’s only downfall is that its second half is not as strong as its first. While Patterson builds toward something darker, I wanted to spend more time with Kateri herself before she takes on more responsibility. Amziah’s relationships with everyone around him are well-established, even if the film isn’t filled with long conversations between the characters, we still feel the depth of their camaraderie. It’s clear Amziah cares about those around him and they him. That same care is passed down to Kateri by association, but it’s primarily with Owen Teague’s character that we get to see it flourish further.
The Rivals of Amziah King is Angelina LookingGlass’s first role, and the story gives her a lot to carry. McConaughey has a genuine bond with her that shines in their scenes together, and when Kateri is tasked with finding out who’s stealing the bees, LookingGlass showcases a quiet, understated perseverance. There are moments when the performance left me wanting more, but I liked that it wasn’t too showy. It worked well overall with the film’s more grounded nature.
To be sure, the crime aspects of the story don’t completely work, but Patterson delivers a thoroughly enjoyable film that is well-shot, edited, and has strong themes. Kurt Russell is in his element playing the antagonist, but The Rivals of Amziah King gives him another dimension even as Kateri plots how to get to him. McConaughey is, as always, a charismatic, magnetic performer who draws us in from the start. All told, Patterson delivers another solid feature and proves he’s a filmmaker who’s committed to doing something all his own in an overall beautiful film that earns its ending.
The Rivals of Amziah King premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival.