CHICAGO — A new Chicago-made indie comedy is making its debut at the Davis Theater in Lincoln Square this Tuesday, bringing a hilarious heist story to local screens — with plenty of Windy City flair, grit, and satire.
The film, titled Oxy Morons, stars former Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije and actor Jeremy Sumpter (known for Friday Night Lights and Peter Pan) in a wild tale of pharmaceutical theft, corporate greed, and unlikely teamwork.
“This is a Chicago story,” said director Sarah Cayce, a Lincoln Square resident. “We shot all over — North Side, South Side. There’s nothing like it.”
What’s ‘Oxy Morons’ About?
The film follows Wayne Poss (played by Sumpter), a stressed-out logistics employee who gets roped into a half-baked opioid-smuggling plan with a ragtag crew. Their absurd operation includes:
- Stealing painkillers from a massive pharmaceutical company
- Dodging law enforcement
- Launching a homemade submarine into Lake Michigan
“Let’s take a worker at a greedy logistics corporation and have him start pilfering pills from Big Pharma,” said screenwriter Grant Troyer, who lives in Bucktown. “You couldn’t really set this story anywhere but Chicago to make it work.”
The satire leans heavily into exposing corporate dysfunction and reckless greed — all while delivering laughs and action-packed sequences.
Filmed In Chicago With Local Talent
The production was shot across the city in just 20 days in 2022, operating with a tight budget of under $1 million. Cayce, a former casting director, said the film came together thanks to Chicago connections and scrappy ingenuity.
Filming highlights include:
- O’Hare International Airport, Bucktown, and more
- A cast full of local actors and production crew
- A practical submarine build kicked into Lake Michigan
“We actually built a practical submarine and kicked it into the lake,” Cayce said. “There was electrical inside!”
The film also takes jabs at corporate onboarding sessions, mocking how many “hands are in the cookie jar” within the logistics world.
A Real Chicago Premiere
The red carpet premiere is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave., at a private event for cast, crew, and supporters of Chicago’s indie film scene.
After the screening, Oxy Morons will be available on major streaming platforms:
- AppleTV
- Tubi
- Redbox
- Fandango
A Nod To Punk Rock — And Chicago’s DIY Spirit
Cayce said she was drawn to the film’s rebellious tone and underground feel, shaped by her own love of punk rock and Chicago stand-up comedy.
“My favorite stand-up comics talk about real stuff — but they do it through big laughs,” she said. “This was a grungy, punk rock story. We worked our butts off.”
Have you seen Oxy Morons or attended an indie premiere in Chicago recently? What do you think about comedy films that tackle serious issues like Big Pharma? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
