Local Spotlight: The Midwestern Gothic of Jury of Her Peers
Part of the joy of exploring physical media is the ability to choose your own adventure with what, when, and why we interact with creative works. And while the store's movie racks regularly house titles ranging from cult classics and blockbuster hits, I also believe in the power of independent films to communicate stories that might otherwise be overlooked.
Jury of Her Peers is a film that strikes a chord in this regard; based on the actual trial of Margaret Hossack and the acclaimed source work by pioneering writer, playwright, and activist Susan Glaspell, the film is a reimagining of a notorious century old axe-murder of an Iowa farmer. Cast against a Midwestern Gothic palette, the film has been described as a "gripping murder mystery [which] explores trust, betrayal, and the cost of long-buried secrets."
Award-Winning Roots
Most recently, Jury of Her Peers was screened at the 2026 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, where it received "Professional Narrative Feature" and "Iowa Connection Eddy Award" honors, speaking both to the homegrown aspects of its production, but also the strength of the work itself.
In a first for our shop, director and screenwriter William Rock shared some thoughts about the film to coincide with us stocking a limited number of copies of its DVD. In viewing the film myself, I was particularly impressed by its production and storytelling; specifically the sound design and score, which provide a refined, compelling backdrop for the narrative.
The Sound of Pioneer Iowa
In an email exchange, Rock spoke to the kismet at play which led to a collaboration with composer and orchestrator Aleksandra Nagorna. "Just as I started to look for a composer, she posted in the Iowa Film Facebook group that she had just moved back to Iowa after finishing her MFA in Europe." In listening to Nagorna's work, Rock said it was "the Ukrainian folk influence of her acoustic strings compositions [which] felt like a perfect fit for a film set in pioneer Iowa."
Lessons from the Past
The craft on display here reflects an approach that has evolved over time. Rock mentioned how his 2016 screenplay, God or Glory: The Life of St. Columba, helped him bring increased depth to the characters portrayed in Jury of Her Peers. "From God or Glory I learned that spectacle isn't enough," he added. "The emotional journey of the characters is crucial. And it's really really hard to visualize something that's happening internally, but that is a screenwriter's job. How do you show what can't be shown?"
How to Watch
For more on the film, I recommend listening to the Maxwell's Iowa CoffeeCast interview with Rock and actor Stephanie Schneider or attending a screening of the film yourself. And if you'd like to get your hands on a copy of Jury of Her Peers, a limited selection of DVDs are available in the shop this week.