'Forelock' Dark Comedy Premieres at Austin Film Festival

On October 23, the dark comedy "Forelock" will make its premiere as an opening night selection at the 32nd Austin Film Festival. The film, starring David Krumholtz, marks the solo directorial debut of writer-director Caleb Alexander Smith, who also stars in the movie.

Krumholtz, known for his role in the recent film "Oppenheimer," plays Randy, an opportunistic Hollywood Boulevard grifter who exploits his likeness to the world's most famous superhero. The film follows Caiden, played by Smith, a hapless fitness enthusiast who moves to Los Angeles dreaming of becoming a trainer, only to be diverted by Randy's schemes. The pair must navigate a world of trouble involving a temperamental drug boss and a whimsical cop investigating a celebrity murder.

"Forelock," named for the iconic curl on a certain superhero's forehead, draws from Smith's real-life experience as a superhero lookalike on Hollywood Boulevard. The film takes an unflinching look at the city, from the homeless crisis and public disorder to the mansions of Bel Air, capturing a "frighteningly authentic snapshot of downtown Hollywood."

As an executive producer, Krumholtz wanted to be more than just a performer, noting that "making any indie is an uphill battle, but making one on the streets of Los Angeles is particularly thorny." The result is a "dynamic and comedic thrill ride that capitalizes on the relatable themes of a specific brand of desperation: Hollywood desperation."