This film is presented by St. Louis’s long-running cult film series Strange Brew and will feature a pre-film intro by Strange Brew programmer Jon Scorfina.

Across America (2024) follows Chad Caruso, a skateboarder from Long Island, who challenges himself to skateboard alone across the United States – more than 3,000 miles. Director John Testa documents Caruso’s 57-day journey as he travels from Venice Beach to Virginia Beach, ultimately earning him a Guinness World Record. As Caruso navigates both physical and mental hurdles, the film explores themes of sobriety and mortality, providing a heartfelt portrait of the thoughts and ideas that shape his mindset. Across America is more than a skateboarding adventure—it’s a profoundly human exploration of resilience, self-discovery, and the universal quest for meaning.

Across America will be preceded with a screening of legendary skate video The Search for Animal Chin (1987). The Bones Brigade, a team of young skaters that includes Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain & Tommy Guerrero, embark on a quest to find the mythological first skateboarder Animal Chin who has gone missing. The team travels to far-flung locations including Hawaii and Mexico searching for Animal Chin, culminating in the discovery of Animal Chin’s secret ramp: a magnificent double half pipe. The Search for Animal Chin was the third Bones Brigade release, and is regarded as one of the first skate team videos to feature a narrative plot. It ultimately helped popularize skateboarding throughout the country in the 1980s.  

The Strange Brew cult movie night is excited to host a double dose of skateboarding action, including the St. Louis premiere of the new documentary Across America (2024)with an introduction and post-film Q&A with skater and the subject of the film Chad Caruso, as well as an archival screening of The Search for Animal Chin (1987) on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 pm. 

A portion of ticket proceeds for this event will benefit Sk8 Liborius.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.