Last Days in the Desert
In the New Testament, Jesus went to the desert for 40 days of fasting and during that time he was often tempted by Satan. This film is a twist on that story where Ewan McGregor plays both Christ and the Devil. You had us at "Obi-Wan Kenobi pays Jesus and Satan." (Expand gallery to full screen to find out why we're looking forward to each film.) courtesy Sundance Institute
Last Days in the Desert
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: In the New Testament, Jesus went to the desert for 40 days of fasting and during that time he was often tempted by Satan. This film, from Albert Nobbs director Rodrigo García is a twist on that story where Ewan McGregor plays both Christ and the Devil. There have been a lot of biblical movies lately … blah, blah, blah. You had us at "Obi-Wan Kenobi pays Jesus and Satan." —Angela Watercutter
Advantageous
Gwen Koh lives in a near-future metropolis where she’s the spokesperson for the Center For Advanced Health and Living, a company that offers solutions to people who want to “overcome their natural disadvantages and begin life anew.” When Gwen’s position is jeopardized, she must decide if she'd use that service herself. courtesy Sundance Institute
Advantageous
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Gwen Koh lives in a near-future metropolis where she’s the spokesperson for the Center For Advanced Health and Living. Using a radical new technology, her company offers solutions to people who want to “overcome their natural disadvantages and begin life anew.” When Gwen’s position at the Center is jeopardized, she must decide whether to utilize the service provided by her employer. We’re looking forward to creepy corporate dystopia and existential crises with this one. —Jordan Crucchiola
The Experimenter
In 1961, a social psychologist named Stanley Milgram conducted “obedience experiments” at Yale University that entailed participants administering electric shocks to strangers on command. Considering Milgram is played here by Peter Sarsgaard, we’re sure he will be brought to life with chilling effect. courtesy Sundance Institute
The Experimenter
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: In 1961, a social psychologist named Stanley Milgram conducted “obedience experiments” at Yale University that entailed participants administering electric shocks to strangers on command. Considering Milgram is played here by Peter Sarsgaard, we’re sure the “deceptive, manipulative” monster will be brought to life with chilling effect. —Jordan Crucchiola
It Follows
Everyone knows that if you’re in a horror movie, you best preserve your virtue if you want to preserve your life. It Follows makes an entire movie out of that trope. Jay’s a 19-year-old girl who decides to go all the way with her boyfriend, which results in her being "suddenly pursued, slowly but persistently, by a malevolent supernatural presence." courtesy Sundance Institute
It Follows
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Everyone knows that if you’re in a horror movie, you best preserve your virtue if you want to preserve your life. It Follows makes an entire movie out of that trope—and it looks great. Jay’s a typical 19-year-old girl who decides to go all the way with her new boyfriend, which results in her being "suddenly pursued, slowly but persistently, by a malevolent supernatural presence that takes the form of different people." In this world, there’s no such thing as safe sex. —Jordan Crucchiola
Knock Knock
Eli Roth may have made his name upping the stakes in torture porn, but gore-play a la Saw is so tired. Roth knows this, and so his inaugural collaboration with Keanu Reeves (indeed!) promises psychological thrills instead of gag-reflex ones. courtesy Sundance Institute
Knock Knock
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Eli Roth may have made his name upping the stakes in torture porn, but gore-play a la Saw is so tired. Roth knows this, and so his inaugural collaboration with Keanu Reeves (indeed!) promises psychological thrills instead of gag-reflex ones. Reeves plays a dad flying solo while his family heads out for a beach weekend, but things take a turn when two beautiful women show up at his door. We’ll see what kind of funny games they get up to. —Jordan Crucchiola
Mississippi Grind
This road trip movie about a journey to New Orleans for some high-stakes gambling sounds like our kind of mix of humor and darkness. It's also from the team that made the fantastic Ryan Gosling flick Half Nelson. Jackpot. courtesy Sundance Institute
Mississippi Grind
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: This road trip movie about a journey to New Orleans for some high-stakes gambling sounds like our kind of mix of humor and darkness. It's also from the team that made the fantastic Ryan Gosling flick Half Nelson. Jackpot. —Angela Watercutter
People, Places, Things
Flight of the Concords' Jemaine Clement plays a teacher and graphic novelist who is newly single and trying to balance being a father with, like, dating. While this could be another "lost dude finds his way" film, something tells us this might be more to our liking than we would've initially expected. courtesy Sundance Institute
People, Places, Things
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Flight of the Concords' Jemaine Clement plays a teacher and graphic novelist who is newly single and trying to balance being a father with, like, dating. While this could be another "lost dude finds his way" film, something about the fact that he's very pointedly a graphic novelist says this one might be more to our liking than we would've initially expected. Also, WIRED cover model Jessica Williams is in this, so we really don't want to miss it. —Angela Watercutter
Reversal
A young woman being held captive by a sexual predator breaks free only to discover there are many others just like her being kept prisoner. She vows to save them, and turns her attacker into her prisoner so that he can lead her to his victims. Feminist revenge fantasy, anyone? courtesy Sundance Institute
Reversal
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Sundance is rich with promising horror pictures this year, and Reversal is among them. A young woman being held captive by a sexual predator breaks free only to discover there are many others just like her being kept prisoner. She vows to save them, and turns her attacker into her prisoner so that he can lead her to his victims. Feminist revenge fantasy, anyone? —Jordan Crucchiola
Seoul Searching
Set in the 1908s, Seoul Searching is about a bunch of Korean teenagers sent from far and wide to South Korea for a summer to learn about their heritage. But, according to the film's synopsis, "they’re on a crash course to bring shame to their families, their ancestors, and their hosts." Sounds like fun. courtesy Sundance Institute
Seoul Searching
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Set in the 1908s, Seoul Searching is about a bunch of Korean teenagers sent from far and wide to South Korea for a summer to learn about their heritage. But, according to the film's synopsis, "they’re on a crash course to bring shame to their families, their ancestors, and their hosts." Sounds like fun. —Angela Watercutter
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Based on the real-life research of Dr. Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in the early 70s, this story focuses on the psychology of imprisonment and follows 24 male undergrads who volunteer for an experiment to be either prisoners or guards. The study turns dark when its participants get swept up in their roles. courtesy Sundance Institute
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Based on the real-life research of Dr. Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in the early 70s, this story focuses on the psychology of imprisonment and follows 24 male undergrads who volunteer for an experiment to be either prisoners or guards. The study turns dark when its participants get swept up in their roles, and with talents like Ezra Miller, Olivia Thirlby, and Billy Crudup on board we’re expecting great results. —Jordan Crucchiola
Z for Zachariah
This is a post-disaster flick where Margot Robbie plays a woman who believes she is the last human on Earth. Things get tricky when two men (Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor) end up vying for her attention. Pretty sure we've seen this one before and Captain Kirk gets the girl, but whatever. We're in. courtesy Sundance Institute
Z for Zachariah
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: This is a post-disaster flick where Margot Robbie plays a woman who believes she is the last human on Earth. Things get tricky when she meets two men who end up going all primal and vying for her attention. Those two men are played by Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Pretty sure we've seen this one before and Captain Kirk gets the girl, but whatever. We're in. —Angela Watercutter
Ten Thousand Saints
This New-York-in-the-1980s flick is packed with stars like Ethan Hawke and Emily Mortimer. But it's the reunion of Ender's Game co-stars Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld that we're excited to see. courtesy Sundance Institute
Ten Thousand Saints
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: This New-York-in-the-1980s flick is packed with stars like Ethan Hawke and Emily Mortimer. But it's the reunion of Ender's Game co-stars Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld that we're excited to see. —Angela Watercutter
The Bronze
Olympic figure skater Hope Ann Greggory's (Melissa Rauch) star has been steadily fading since winning bronze in 2004. She lives in her dad’s basement and lost her America’s sweetheart title long ago, but that doesn’t stop her hackles from rising when a local gymnast rises to prominence and threatens her "celeb status" at home. courtesy Sundance Institute
The Bronze
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Surprise! It’s another project from executive producers Mark and Jay Duplass! This one follows the story of an Olympic figure skater, Hope Ann Greggory (Melissa Rauch), whose star has been steadily fading since winning bronze in the 2004 winter games. Hope lives in her dad’s basement and lost her America’s sweetheart title long ago, but that doesn’t stop her hackles from rising when a local gymnast rises to prominence and threatens her "celeb status" at home. It looks like a clever twist on the antihero with that signature Duplassian quirk. —Jordan Crucchiola
The Overnight
Not going to lie, we'd wade through hip-deep snow for hours to see our girl Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) in just about anything. Luckily, The Overnight also sounds like a fun head trip about coupledom and sexual frustration—and it stars Parks and Recreation's Adam Scott. courtesy Sundance Institute
The Overnight
Not going to lie, we'd wade through hip-deep snow for hours to see our girl Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) in just about anything. Luckily, The Overnight also sounds like a fun head trip about coupledom and sexual frustration—and it stars Parks and Recreation's Adam Scott. —Angela Watercutter
The Tribe
This is a Ukranian movie about a new student, Sergey, struggling to fit in at his boarding school for deaf students. The main clique on campus is a gang specializing in crime and prostitution, and once Sergey gets initiated he takes on pimp responsibilities for a pair of best friends. We're in. courtesy Sundance Institute
The Tribe
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: This is a Ukranian movie about a new student, Sergey, struggling to fit in at his boarding school for deaf students. The main clique on campus is a gang specializing in crime and prostitution, and once Sergey gets initiated he takes on pimp responsibilities for a pair of best friends. The entire movie is performed in sign language, with no music and no subtitles, promising a highly uncomfortable and highly engaging experience. We’re in. —Jordan Crucchiola
Turbo Kid
We’ve seen a lot of post-apocalyptic worlds lately, but this one’s got a twist. The year is 1997, and the setting is a drought-stricken wasteland. Our hero is Kid, who survives by trading scavenged supplies for water. When a henchman of "Zeus" kidnaps Kid's best friend Apple, he has to fight Zeus and his masked army to get her back. courtesy Sundance Institute
Turbo Kid
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: We’ve seen a lot of post-apocalyptic worlds lately, but this one’s got a spunky twist. The year is 1997, and the setting is a drought-stricken nuclear wasteland. Our hero is Kid, who survives by trading scavenged supplies for water rations. When a henchman of "evil overlord Zeus" kidnaps Kid's best friend Apple, he has to fight Zeus and his masked army to get her back. Nuclear holocaust for the whole family. —Jordan Crucchiola
Unexpected
Agent Maria Hill (OK, Cobie Smulders) plays a high school science teacher who finds her self knocked up. The pregnancy is, yes, unexpected. It sounds like Juno for grown ups, but we at WIRED HQ believe Smulders can do no wrong. courtesy Sundance Institute
Unexpected
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Agent Maria Hill (OK, Cobie Smulders) plays a high school science teacher who finds her self knocked up. The pregnancy is, yes, unexpected. It sounds like Juno for grown ups, but we at WIRED HQ believe Smulders can do no wrong. —Angela Watercutter
I Smile Back
Sarah Silverman goes dark as Laney, a disillusioned suburban wife and mother whose disillusionment leads to a lot of self-destructive behavior that could threaten her seemingly pristine life. This could be the start of a whole new career for Silverman, and we can't wait to see it begin. courtesy Sundance Institute
I Smile Back
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Sarah Silverman goes dark as Laney, a disillusioned suburban wife and mother whose disillusionment leads to a lot of self-destructive behavior that could threaten her seemingly pristine life. This could be the start of a whole new career for Silverman, and we can't wait to see it begin. —Angela Watercutter
Dope
Dope is about a bunch of outcasts obsessed with '90s hip-hop. It also stars A$AP Rocky and music from Pharrell Williams. If that wasn't enough, the movie's synopsis promises that the crew gets "swireled into a hilarious blender of offbeat characters and bad choices where redemption can only be found in Bitcoin. OK! courtesy Sundance Institute
Dope
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Dope is about a bunch of outcasts obsessed with '90s hip-hop. It also stars A$AP Rocky and music from Pharrell Williams. If that wasn't enough, the movie's synopsis promises that the crew gets "swireled into a hilarious blender of offbeat characters and bad choices where redemption can only be found in Bitcoin. OK! —Angela Watercutter
Western
Documentarian brothers Bill and Turner Ross’ latest film looks at two towns on either side of the Mexico/Texas border. I’ve known the Ross Bros. for years—their doc 45365 is about our shared home zip code—so I’m a bit biased, but this film about the effects of cartel violence looks stunning. courtesy Sundance Institute
Western
Why We're Willing to Wait in the Cold For It: Documentarian brothers Bill and Turner Ross’ latest film looks at two towns on either side of the Mexico/Texas border. I’ve known the Ross Bros. for years—their doc 45365 is about our shared home zip code—so I’m a bit biased, but this film about the effects of cartel violence looks stunning. —Angela Watercutter
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