In theory, creating an effective folk horror movie shouldn’t be too difficult; there’s a wealth of myth and lore to pull into making a film that both haunts and mystifies. But in practice, modern scary movies tend to fumble this easy bag with dull writing and worse plots. Writer-director Brit Chainey falls into that same camp with Rabbit Trap, his feature debut that premiered at Sundance Film Festival. The movie tries to capitalize on the wild and weird beauty of Wales to create a folk horror story with a strong emotional tenor, but clever visual tricks and an evocative setting can’t save Rabbit Trap from its own incoherent plot.
Read MoreIn her directorial debut Oh, Hi!—which premiered this year at Sundance Film Festival—Sophie Brooks takes the decline of modern dating and mixes it up in a frothy rom-com.
Read MoreNext week, two Hyperreal Film Journal writers will pack their parkas and snow boots and jet off to Park City, Utah, for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Our editor-in-chief Alix Mammina and staff writer Andy Volk share their top picks to catch, whether you’re braving the cold in-person or checking in for online screenings.
Read MoreNicole Daddano and Adam Wilder’s short animated film The Bleacher makes the viewer a voyeur in a dark and gritty world, centered around a laundromat where a regular has some very dirty laundry to do indeed. HFC sat down with Nicole and Adam to discuss all the strange turns the film takes and shifting from live action to animation.
Read MoreA selection of Sundance 2024’s independent film offerings, from queer neo-noir Ponyboi, to the experimental AI-structured Eno, to Sasquatch Sunset’s Sasquatch pee.
Read MoreBite-sized movie reviews from the heart of Sundance
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