One of the best aspects of the Sundance Film Festival
is its Midnight Section, which typically brings a variety of horror films that are ready and waiting to make us jump or curl away from the screen in disconcertment. In 2024, Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, a uniquely told ghost story, surprised and awed, while Infinity Pool disgusted and disturbed. This year’s Sundance Film Festival has plenty of new and exciting horror offerings that are sure to have audiences talking.
When it comes to horror, festival movies are inventive, taking the genre to places we have never been to before. That was the case with last year’s I Saw the TV Glow, which managed to maintain interest long after its Sundance debut. We can never have too much horror, as it’s a genre with plenty to say and where creativity can truly soar. Sundance’s 2025 lineup looks to be just as thrilling as in previous years, with Ayo Edebiri, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dev Patel, among others, starring in what will be some of the most talked-about films at the festival.
5
The Thing With Feathers
Written & Directed By Dylan Southern
The Thing with Feathers
The Thing with Feathers, directed by Dylan Southern, follows a father and his two young sons as they navigate the emotional landscape of grief and healing after the sudden death of their wife and mother.
- Release Date
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January 25, 2025
- Cast
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Benedict Cumberbatch
, David Thewlis
, Sam Spruell
, Jessie Cave
, Leo Bill
, Vinette Robinson
, Adam Basil
, Tim Plester
, Garry Cooper
, Pierre Bergman
, Eric Lampaert
, Dwane Walcott
, Lesley Molony
, Joakim Skarli
, Max Porter
, Matthew John Wright
, Nandi Bhebhe
, Richard Boxall
, Rimca Karmakar
, Henry Boxall - Director
-
Dylan Southern
- Writers
-
Dylan Southern
Based on Max Porter’s book, Grief is the Thing with Feathers, the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring vehicle is tinged with drama first and foremost. However, we should also expect to be thrilled and chilled by its story, which follows Cumberbatch’s character and his two sons after the sudden loss of their wife and mother, respectively. Some of the best horror films are psychological ones, and The Thing with Feathers promises to be an engaging one that deals with the aftermath of losing a loved one as Cumberbatch’s character loses his grip on what is and isn’t real.
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Other Horror Movies Premiering At Sundance 2025 |
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Together |
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Touch Me |
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ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Lover |
Cumberbatch has proven himself a reliably good actor who brings a range of emotions to his roles. In The Thing with Feathers, the actor grapples with psychological stress as his character is seemingly stalked by a mysterious presence. The use of horror and grief is always a winning combination, as the latter informs the emotions tethered to the latter, and The Thing with Feathers’ premise is as mysterious as it is exciting.
4
Opus
Written & Directed By Mark Anthony Green
There can be nothing creepier than being whisked off to a remote location and forced to deal with whatever wild unknown awaits. In Opus, The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri is a writer who’s invited to the private compound of a singer (John Malkovich) who disappeared decades prior. Opus is in line with the greatest unsettling horror movies, but it also promises to be flashy and wildly entertaining. Edebiri has great comedic timing and her fish-out-of-water situation, especially when realizing Malkovich’s pop star has a cult around him, is bound to be fun and simultaneously disturbing. The bonus: its commentary on celebrity.
3
The Ugly Stepsister
Written & Directed By Emilie Blichfeldt
The Ugly Stepsister
The Ugly Stepsister offers a comedic horror twist on the classic fairy tale, centering on Cinderella’s stepsister, Elvira. Set in a kingdom obsessed with beauty, Elvira competes with her glamorous sibling, resorting to drastic measures to win the prince’s affection.
- Release Date
-
March 7, 2025
- Runtime
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105 minutes
- Cast
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Lea Mathilde Skar-Myren
, Thea Sofie Loch Næss
, Ane Dahl Torp
, Flo Fagerli
, Isac Calmroth
, Malte Gårdinger
, Ralph Carlsson
, Albin Weidenbladh
, Katarzyna Herman
, Adam Lundgren
, Willy Ramnek Petri
, Cecilia Forss
, Kyrre Hellum
, Richard Forsgren
, Agnieszka Żulewska
, Philip Lenkowsky
, Staffan Kolhammar - Writers
-
Emilie Kristine Blichfeldt
It’s always thrilling when a movie subverts fairy tale expectations; turning them into a horror-like situation is all the better. The Norwegian horror film takes things a step further by having its main character, Elvira, battle with her stepsister for the prince’s affection. In The Ugly Stepsister, it’s all about the ideals of beauty and physical perfection, which translate to literal battles within the world of the film. The satire will include quite a bit of body horror, which can be quite gruesome but will no doubt dominate the conversation surrounding the film, which is already thrilling considering its rich themes.
2
Rabbit Trap
Written & Directed By Bryn Chainey
Dev Patel in a horror film. Need I say more? Coming off of his directorial debut with last year’s Monkey Man, Patel stars as Darcy alongside Rosy McEwen’s Daphne. The pair portray a musician couple who moves to a remote location in Wales. Whenever you hear “remote” location, things are surely about to get spooky. Such is the case with Rabbit Trap. The pair’s music affects the local ancient magic and brings with it a mysterious child. Horror movie children can look simultaneously innocent and terrifying at the same time, and no doubt the same will be the case here.
It’s impressive, and the fact that Rabbit Trap has to do with ancient magic makes it all the more beautifully mystifying. The film is another psychological horror Sundance adds to its festival slate, as the child’s arrival messes with Darcy and Daphne, shaking their lives up in an entirely unexpected way, all while warping their time in Wales. Being isolated in the woods paired with folk magic and a creepy child is a one-way ticket to an elevated horror movie experience.
1
Didn’t Die
Written & Directed By Meera Menon
Didn’t Die
Didn’t Die is a post-apocalyptic thriller following a podcast host navigating a zombie apocalypse.
- Release Date
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January 30, 2025
- Runtime
-
89 minutes
- Cast
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Kiran Deol
, George Basil
, Samrat Chakrabarti
, Katie McCuen
, Vishal Vijayakumar - Director
-
Meera Menon
Didn’t Die is a unique take on the zombie apocalypse. The film follows Vinita, who hosts a post-apocalyptic podcast. Her audience isn’t as large as before the zombies arrived, but her world shifts when her ex arrives with a baby. What I’m most excited about is Meera Menon’s directing choices, as the filmmaker is no stranger to apocalyptic worlds or zombies, having directed episodes of The Walking ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and The Man in the High Castle. With an intriguing premise and lush cinematography, Didn’t Die has everything needed to impress when it debuts at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
