Chris Abbott and Jerrod Carmichael appear in <i>On the Count of Three</i> by Jerrod Carmichael

Movies

[Sundance ’21] Our most anticipated movies for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival

The movies we are looking forward to most from Sundance.

January 20, 2021

The Sundance Film Festival is going to be doing things a little different this year. In order to promote social distancing while still providing the varied movie selection the festival is known for, Sundance organizers have taken the event online. This was done by many film fests last year. What Sundance is doing different is they will also be having screenings around the country in satellite theaters. It is a bold idea that brings the festival to those who have always wanted to attend but have never had the opportunity to.

One thing that has not changed is the slate of movies being offered by the Sundance Film Festival. The home for such iconic films as The Blair Witch Project, Reservoir Dogs, and Get Out, the festival has served as a launching pad for many filmmakers and careers. This year seems to be no different as there are over 70 films scheduled to be shown during the fest. Here are some of the ones we are looking most forward to.

Human Factors

[Sundance '21] Our most anticipated movies for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival

Home invasion is one of the most frightening sub genres of horror. But what if the story was less about what happened but and people thought had happened. The result is a compelling family drama that keeps the audience guessing. The movie is less about frightening audiences with jump scares and more about elaborate storytelling.

John and the Hole

[Sundance '21] Our most anticipated movies for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival

Charlie Shotwell appears in John and the Hole by Pascual Sisto, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Paul Özgür.

Coming of age stories are no stranger to the Sundance Film Festival. The event has also been home to some of the best horror movies of recent years. John and the Hole is and interesting mix of both. One day, a 13-year old boy named John finds a hole in the ground. He decides to drug his family and hold them captive in the hole. It sounds strange, frightening, and intriguing.

Knocking

Cecilia Milocco appears in Knocking by Frida Kempff, an official selection of the Midnight section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Hannes Krantz.

Speaking of horror, Knocking takes a familiar trope of the genre and adds a twist. Molly has just experienced a traumatic experience. She soon begins hearing knocking sounds in the upstairs apartment and naturally wants to know what they are. They soon become more desperate and sound like cries for help. But why can’t anyone else hear them?

Mother Schmuckers

Harpo Guit, Yannick Renier, and Maxi Delmelle appear in Mother Schmuckers by Lenny Guit and Harpo Guit, an official selection of the Midnight section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sylvestre Vannoorenberghe.

Making its World Premiere at Sundance, this is the first Belgian movie to be selected for the Midnight section. The comedy is about a pair of brothers who have 24 hours to find a dog they lost. Sounds simple enough, right? Creative, incredibly funny, and filled with heart, comparisons have been made to Jude Apatow and Adam McKay movies.

Violation

Madeleine Sims-Fewer appears in Violation by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, an official selection of the Midnight section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by One Plus One.

The female revenge genre has made some great strides in recent years. The films of the genre now seem to actually be making a statement instead of just claiming to. This Canadian feature which includes themes of sexual assault and gaslighting is said to “flip the revenge genre on its head”. It will be interesting to see what this moody piece brings to revenge films.