Oscilloscope Laboratories debuted the official trailer for Vulcanizadora, the black comedy thriller film edited, written, directed, and starring Joel Potrykus. Potrykus and Joshua Burge star as two friends who travel into the Michigan woods for a dark mission that goes awry. Also starring in the movie are Bill Vincent, Solo Potrykus and Melissa Blanchard.

Vulcanizadora premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, where it garnered critical acclaim and a Special Jury Mention for Joshua Burge’s performance. The film continued its festival circuit, screening at the Oak Cliff Film Festival – where it won Best Narrative Feature, the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Boston Underground Film Festival , and the Calgary Underground Film Festival .

It will be released in select theaters on May 2, 2025.

According to the official synopsis, “Two friends trudge through a Michigan forest with the intention of following through on a disturbing pact. Once their plan goes shockingly awry, the surreal and haunting consequences of their failure can’t stay hidden for long.”

Potrykus describes Vulcanizadora as a “personal film and the one that’s most connected to my life” work, stating, “This is the first movie I’ve ever made that I could describe as cathartic. I put myself, mostly subconsciously, into all my characters in my other films, but this is the first one I’m really breaking down thoughts that creep into my brain at night.” ​

Critics have praised the film, with Variety review describing it as “surprisingly spiritual genre oddity”. It continued, “By the time its end credits roll, “Vulcanizadora” proves surprisingly moving in its depiction of mid-life crises and of two men who feel so betrayed by the world (and by their own actions) that they see no escape from their malaise. To turn that feeling into coherent drama is hard enough. To turn it into acerbic, introspective comedy is harder still, but somehow, Potrykus succeeds.”

Watch the official trailer for Vulcanizadora