The Sundance Film Festival has kicked off its new year with a diverse lineup of promising original features that could become awards season darlings in the coming months. With films like “Atropia”, “Bubble & Squeak”, and “Didn’t Die on the roster, this year’s Sundance might just do the trick.
Among the notable releases are “Train Dreams”, an understated portrait of a life oscillating between heartbreaking tragedy and hopeful beauty, and “Plainclothes”, an incredibly meta story about a failed attempt to make a documentary. The latter is a surprisingly compelling true-crime deconstruction that serves as a clever commentary on the genre.
Other standout films include “Atropia”, which nails the Bush era’s “patriotic” madness with its satirical and romantic modes, and “Luz”, a visually stunning film set in multiple worlds but marred by meandering parallel stories. The latter attempts to throw in some tension through a million-dollar art heist and a virtual reality metaverse, but ultimately falls short.
The festival also features “Bubble & Squeak”, a ridiculous comedy with comedic performances from Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, and Matt Berry, as well as “By Design”, a surreal film about a chair becoming an obsession for its owner. “Didn’t Die” rounds out the list with a touching story of family and loss in a zombie apocalypse world.
Finally, “The Legend of Ochi” is a gorgeous adventure that takes place in a post-apocalyptic mountain community where ape-like creatures called ochi are hunted by farmers. While it has promise, it falls short of truly standing out as a standout film.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/film/600871/sundance-film-festival-2025-reviews-trailers