Epoch Watchlist: Recommended Viewing for March 27–April 2

This week, we’ll watch a father and daughter trying to reconnect on the road and a wounded veteran who finds peace with a pair of young hounds.

New Release 

‘She Dances’

Jason (Steve Zahn), a struggling father, drifts after losing his son, while his daughter Claire (Audrey Zahn) keeps her distance. Jason, who shares a business with his friend Brian (Ethan Hawke), takes Claire to her final dance competition, and the trip starts to heal the rift between them.

Zahn stumbling through rehearsal halls and hotel mix-ups gives the trip a loose, funny edge, which keeps everything from sinking into self-pity. The dance finals close things out on a good note, with a father-daughter dynamic that feels genuine.

Comedy | Drama Release Date: March 27, 2026 Director: Rick Gomez Starring: Ethan Hawke, Wynn Everett, Steve Zahn Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Where to Watch: Theaters Rated: 4 stars out of 5 

Family Pick

‘Where the Red Fern Grows: Part Two’

Billy Coleman (Doug McKeon) comes back from World War II with one less leg. He ends up at his Grandfather Will’s (Wilford Brimley) home deep in the Louisiana woods, where he bonds with two hound pups. The days slow down around Billy, and somewhere between the land and the dogs, he begins to find his footing again.

The film sidesteps the usual war tropes by letting the environment take over, acting as a sanctuary for healing. McKeon plays it restrained, and Brimley fits naturally into the world, which helps everything feel more real.

Drama | Family Release Date: Nov. 13, 1992 Director: Jim McCullough Jr. Starring: Wilford Brimley, Doug McKeon, Chad McQueen Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes MPAA Rating: G Where to Watch: Fawesome, Amazon, Plex Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Marriage After the Battlefield

‘Indivisible’

Army chaplain Darren Turner (Justin Bruening) heads over to Iraq, while his wife, Heather (Sarah Drew), holds the line at home with their kids. The distance between them grows when Darren’s unit looks to him for leadership. Back home, Darren has to face what followed him out of the war.

The main cast come across as real people dealing with strain, and the scenes rest on those moments. It’s well-paced, keeps faith in the background, and it circles back to people helping each other through damage that lingers long after the war.

Drama | War Release Date: Oct. 26, 2018 Director: David G. Evans Starring: Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George Running time: 1 hour, 59 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Where to Watch: Pure Flix, YouTube, Amazon Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Love and Rivalries in the Desert

‘Johnny Guitar’

Vienna (Joan Crawford) runs a desert saloon under constant threat from Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge). Their feud over the Dancin’ Kid (Scott Brady) turns the town against Vienna, just as Johnny “Guitar” Logan (Sterling Hayden) rides back into her life.

It’s big, stylized, and sometimes over the top, but the music and performances turn it into something that still feels ahead of its time.

Drama | Western Release Date: Aug. 23, 1954 Director: Nicholas Ray Starring: Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes Not Rated Where to Watch: Amazon, YouTube, Kanopy Rated: 4 stars out of 5

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