Electrick Children

Rachel grows up in a tightly knit polygamist community in southern Utah, where rules feel heavy and curiosity is rare. On her fifteenth birthday she discovers a forbidden cassette and becomes hooked on the gritty sound of rock and roll it contains. The music awakens a sense of possibility she has never imagined and seems to trigger a personal miracle of some kind. Conflicted but drawn to what lies beyond, Rachel slips away from the compound with a stubborn blend of longing and stubborn resolve. She heads toward Las Vegas, chasing the voice behind the band on the tape, hoping to meet the singer who seems to promise a different world. The film holds a restrained hopeful mood inviting reflection.

Directed by Rebecca Thomas, Electrick Children released in 2012 as an independent drama led by Julia Garner as Rachel. The screenplay is an original work, not adapted from another source, with Garner supported by Rory Culkin, Liam Aiken and Bill Sage.

Box office figures for Electrick Children were modest and largely limited to film festivals and a limited theatrical run, with no wide nationwide release or sustained commercial rollout, and earnings mostly under the radar outside major markets in limited release.

Among indie audiences, the film has drawn attention for its offbeat premise and intimate storytelling, with praise for Garner's grounded performance and for treating faith, creativity and sexuality with candor. It earned a small but loyal following in festival and arthouse circles. Its style and themes have resonated with art house crowds.

Reception centers on the quiet power of music and the search for autonomy within a restrictive world. Critics note the film's restrained tone and focus on character over spectacle. It carries an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 from 133 votes. That combination invites close attention to its delicate emotion and bold premise.