Entertainment journalist Christina Escobar, co-founder and editor-in-chief of LatinaMedia.co, shares insights from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. She highlights a dark comedy featuring Alison Brie and Dave Franco that blends humor with critique. The discussion also touches on 'Lurker,' a film that artfully meshes dark themes with youth appeal. Escobar dives into the emotional grit of 'Omaha,' along with notable films like 'The Librarians' tackling social issues. There's even praise for an innovative true crime documentary that brilliantly critiques its genre.
'Together' cleverly uses horror as a metaphor for toxic codependency, blending suspense with humor to engage the audience.
The documentary 'Zodiac Killer Project' offers a creative critique of the true crime genre by deconstructing its conventions while entertaining viewers.
Deep dives
Highlights from Sundance: Innovative Film Debuts
The Sundance Film Festival showcased a variety of films that offer fresh storytelling perspectives. One standout is 'Together,' a body horror film featuring Alison Brie and Dave Franco that explores the dynamics of a couple potentially ending their relationship. The film uses horror elements as a metaphor for toxic codependency, creating both suspense and humorous moments, which resonated well with the audience. This combination of dark imagery and emotional depth makes it a film to look forward to when it releases in August.
A Unique Take on Coming-of-Age Horror
Another recommended film is 'The Virgin of the Quarry Lake,' which offers a distinct twist on the coming-of-age horror genre. Set against the backdrop of Argentina's political turmoil in the early 2000s, it follows a young girl as she navigates oppression and personal empowerment. The film cleverly juxtaposes teenage struggles with broader political themes, making the protagonist’s evolution compelling and relatable. With its combination of personal and political crises, this indie film promises to engage audiences long after viewing.
Critique of True Crime: Zodiac Killer Project
The documentary 'Zodiac Killer Project' provides a self-reflective critique of the true crime genre, examining the filmmaker's attempts to adapt a book about the infamous killer. Rather than securing rights to the original work, the director creatively narrates their envisioned documentary while simultaneously deconstructing popular true crime tropes. By acknowledging the genre's conventions with humor and insight, the film keeps viewers captivated while offering commentary on the ethics and impact of true crime storytelling. This clever approach elevates the documentary, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
We watched many films at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Today, we're recommending some of the best things we saw, including a thrilling debut from a writer on The Bear, a timely doc about the wave of book bans across America, and a bizarro horror comedy starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco.