Sovereign (2025)

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  ScreenZealots

  6 / 10

  Writer / director Christian Swegal‘s “Sovereign” is a grim, compelling slow-burn that rides the edge of true crime and psychological drama. Loosely inspired by the real-life case of Jerry and Joseph Kane, the film follows a father (Nick Offerman) and teenage son (Jacob Tremblay) consumed by anti-government extremism as they crisscross the country peddling sovereign citizen ideology. What begins as an unyielding belief in conspiracy theories and a misguided search for autonomy slowly spirals into a road trip filled with paranoia, violence, and tragedy.
  
  This isn’t a flashy movie, but it certainly is memorable thanks in large part to a surprisingly strong lead performance from Offerman. He anchors the film and is well cast here, showing his range as an actor by embracing his darker side. Offerman makes Jerry both scary yet sympathetic, and it’s clear he loves his son Joe despite being consumed by his own warped worldview. Tremblay isn’t given quite as much to do, but he is believable as an adolescent who is beginning to question his dad while struggling with staying loyal to his family while wanting to desperately to pull away. It’s this father and son relationship that is at the heart of the movie, as disturbing as it may be.
  
  The characters aren’t reduced to caricatures, which adds some moral complexity to the story. The film doesn’t excuse their heinous (and criminal) actions, but it does try to understand how someone might slide into extremism when desperation and disillusionment twists into something dangerous. In a time when ideological divides feel more prevalent than ever, the movie asks hard questions without offering cheap answers.
  
  Swegal directs the material with just the right amount of restraint, allowing tension to build through long stretches of uneasy dialogue and silences. The film isn’t action-packed (except for two shootouts that punctuate the climax), but is more of a slower moving portrait of radicalization. The pacing works until Swegal tries to juggle too many side characters. Dennis Quaid plays a police chief who gets caught up in the Kanes’ path, and his character’s subplot about police training feels out of place. The same goes for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from Martha Plimpton, which does very little to move the story forward. The film is at its best when it sticks with Jerry and Joe on the road, slowly building tension as things spiral out of control.
  
  If you’re into true crime stories and indie dramas with a tough, emotional story, you’ll probably enjoy “Sovereign.” It’s a small film, but a smart and unsettling one.
  
  By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

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