‘Stranger Things’ Star Natalia Dyer’s Hidden Indie Drama You Can Watch For Free Right Now

Stranger Things (2015) did a tremendous amount of good over a decade ago when it introduced us to a brand new cast of outstanding actors alongside a legend like Winona Ryder. Since then, a majority of these actors have gone on to have exciting endeavors in their careers, and it's only the beginning for a lot of them, too. If you're anything like me and love discovering smaller projects that effectively showcase an actor's range, then you're in the right place with an underrated indie drama worth watching to see more of Natalia Dyer.

Written and directed by Jac Cron, Chestnut (2024) is your quintessential coming-of-age indie film that leaves a number of messy feelings on the table and proves that the actress is wildly gifted, and we need to see more of her. Now streaming free on JustWatch TV, Chestnut should be next on your watchlist.

What Is ‘Chestnut’ About?

Chestnut follows Dyer's Annie in a complex and messy love triangle between Rachel Keller's Tyler and Danny Ramirez's Danny, and that's probably the film's biggest fault. It would've been significantly more compelling if it were instead a narrative about self-discovery, as opposed to an added love triangle and intricate feelings in the mix. On the other hand, love does tend to be complicated, so in that regard, there's also a ton of accuracy in how the film explores the feelings between the characters.

In many ways, while parts of the film are formulaic and don't exactly give us anything new, the chemistry between Dyer and Keller is achingly heartwarming. Because of this, the hazy atmospheric drama allows the budding feelings to leap off the screen and shine in a manner that makes the end result even more devastating. You want them to make it. You want them to continue exploring all that's stirring within them, yet at the same time, it's easy to understand why it doesn't. These characters don't know what they want, and there's a realism in that. 

It's ultimately because all characters involved are at that point in their lives where everything's a little messy and untethered. Annie has to leave soon, and her loneliness is too big a part of her at the moment while she tries to grapple with exactly what she wants. Still, you can tell that this time period spent together is one that the characters will carry with them throughout their lives, and there's immense beauty in how specific relationships tend to stay with people and leave a mark. They stay with the viewers, too, no matter how bittersweet.

Chestnut is not a happy ending, nor does it ever really promise that it'll be one, but it's a lovely, albeit heartbreaking journey throughout that's made memorable because of the performances.

Natalia Dyer’s Range Is Fantastic in ‘Chestnut’

If you come into Chestnut having only seen Dyer in Stranger Things, then you're in for a treat because the melancholy she plays with here is transcendent. We get a full range of emotions from Dyer in her role as Nancy Wheeler, but the sadness and curiosity she fuses into Annie make the character completely different from anything else. Often, when we watch actors in various roles, there are similarities to other characters they've embodied, yet here, Dyer delivers something completely riveting.

The film might not have garnered a fresh Rotten Tomatoes score, but if you look at the majority of reviews, most at least praise Dyer's (along with the other actors') work in the property. A large part of the negative reception isn't because of the actors, but rather because viewers wanted more than what we were given, which sometimes tends to be the case with films like this.

We're meant to sit with the uneasy feelings left on by great performances that could've resulted in something amazing if the film wasn't as subdued as it is. Yet, it wouldn't be an indie drama if that weren't the case because the film's formula follows many similar movies like it. Still, there are parts of the story, perhaps in the characterizations and not so much in the plot, that reminded me of Booksmart (2019)

While they aren't exactly similar, the feelings they evoke might appeal to fans who've enjoyed both. Regardless, despite the melodramatic ending, it's a film worth watching for how incredible Dyer's performance is and how acutely she showcases every emotion in her physicality and expressions. The entire cast brings their A-game throughout, and Cron's vision gorgeously complements how the mixed feelings in the characters are present in the atmosphere, too. 

Every closed space and every open one, is made to feel as though there are uncertainties looming in every corner, and for a debut feature, it's admirable how we get a clear tone present throughout.