10 best movies out of Sundance that you need to know about

Held each January, the glorious Sundance Film Festival is where a new year of cinema begins. The Oscar story starts here. Indie products have garnered critical acclaim and enviable distribution deals. Curiosity-filled productions take center stage, and stars spread their wings with bold and glamorous roles. It’s a place of risk and reward, and we’ve taken all the former so we can have all of the latter.

At Sundance 2023, body horror roared, soft sci-fi took on awe, and biopics got downright glittery. Erotic thrillers thundered, and coming-of-age stories blended genres freely. From gut-churning dramas to gut-wracking rom-coms, here are our favorites from the fest and how to watch them.

infinity pool

Writer-Director Brandon Cronenberg Teams Up true bloodwith Alexander Skarsgard of pearl‘s Mia Goth’s Twisted Vacation Story white lotus It seems under the Tuscan sunSet on the fictional island of La Toluca. infinity pool push envelope rich schadenfreude By tracing one rich man’s dangerous descent into decadence. Wild sex, hallucinogens, raw violence, and skin-crawling body horror. As I raved about in my Sundance review,”infinity pool I writhe, but there is no climactic punch line. Instead, this satire of wealth and privilege will leave you stuck in its putrid mud, but perhaps smiling at the sheer bile of its horrors.

How to watch: infinity pool Now in theaters, courtesy of NEON.

landscape with invisible hand

This coming-of-age drama has a soft sci-fi edge and centers around an American teenager (Asante Blackk) who grows up on a planet that has been non-violently conquered by a smug alien race called the Vuvv. For our troubled hero, this means constantly having to make decisions about his own values ​​in the face of extraterrestrial influences and all-too-human greed. Finley adapted M.T. Anderson’s novel with a spacey spectacle, a wry sense of humor, and a steady infusion of an excellent cast boasting Kylie Rogers, Tiffany Haddish, William Jackson Harper, and Josh Hamilton. LetThe result is the movie I declared my sundance review To be “amazing, fun, and thrillingly messed up.”

How to watch: landscape with invisible hand Released by MGM.

Birth/Rebirth

If you’re looking for something creepy yet terribly funny, you’ll love writer/director Laura Moss’ new spin-on Frankenstein. Marin Ireland and Judy Reyes star as a pair of mothers who care for their resurrected children at all costs. Birth/Rebirth There is a rebellious thread of dark comedy. As we shared in our review, “It’s dark humor that makes some feel like they’ve just been injected with adrenaline, and it’s sickening.” Can you handle that?

How to watch: Birth/Rebirth Released by IFC Midnight.

Eileen

Looking for something sexy with slapped camp appeal?then pay attention EileenWilliam Oldroyd’s sensual and barbaric adaptation of Otessa Moshfeg’s debut novel focuses on a mouse-like secretary in 1960s Boston. Opposite Anne Hathaway, in femme fatale mode, it stars the obsessed Thomasin Mackenzie, bringing gay seduction and daring performances. Birth/Reincarnation Marine Ireland! Just when you thought you knew where this moody movie was headed, comes a jaw-dropping revelation that throws the plot and audience into a dizzying spin. And it’s absolutely exhilarating.as I concluded in my Spoiler-free review“towards the seductive and uncompromising Eileen! ”

Viewing method: Eileenrelease plan is undecided.

talk to me

Australian horror film by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker RackaRacka (aka Danny and Michael Philippou), talk to me Spooky party games are the focus. It all starts with a pottery hand, a lit candle, and an invitation to the dead to possess the body of the living. We enjoy the mayhem – lustful, dark, and bizarre – you can bring into your cozy home. But when Mia (Sophie Wilde) can’t separate from seeing these lurking ghosts, she’s forced into a terrifying quest of life or death.

Viewing method: talk to me Acquired from Sundance by A24. The release plan is undecided.

Cassandro

Forget the tearful drama and chunky grimness of the titular biopic. Writer/director Roger Ross Williams and lead actor Gael García Bernal bring vibrancy, joy and sequin flocks to the life story of gay amateur wrestler Saul Armendáriz, who rose to fame as his exotic alter ego Cassandro. His story is a story of adversity, but it’s also a story of resilience, community and love. Bernal shines in a luchador who boldly strides in a leopard print leotard. and his brilliance own leagueRoberta Corindres, Raul Castillo, Perla de la Rosa and Bad Bunny.Looking for an exhilarating movie that will give you the thrill of winning? Cassandro.

How to watch: Cassandro Released by Amazon Studios.

polite society

Nida Manzoor thrilled us for the first time with a sensational comedy series We Are Lady Parts, Explores the ups and downs of an all-female Muslim punk band.Now, ahead of the highly anticipated season 2, this witty writer-director brings us respectful society, A martial arts comedy about Leah Khan (BridgertonPriya Kansala) is a British-Pakistani girl who dreams of becoming a famous butt-kicking stuntwoman. Until then, she had spoken of her love for her plays and spinkicks in order to prevent the arranged marriage of her older sister Lena, whom she loves (Umbrella AcademyRitu Aria).As showcased in the film’s intriguing trailer, high school hysteria is amplified by Leah’s runaway imagination, with comical disguises, brain-clear heists, outrageous fight scenes, and more. Ms. Marvel‘s Nimura Bucha as a boss-level villain. Simply put, polite society Explosion.

How to watch: polite society Theatrical release April 28 in the US and UK.

Judy Bloom Forever

For generations of adolescents, children’s book author Judy Bloom was a trusted friend. While other adults may sneer or clam when confronted with children’s questions about sex and puberty, Bloom’s book Deenie forever… and God, are you there? i’m margaret — opened the door to discussions about menstruation, masturbation, young love, and lust. He has interviewed many Bloom-inspired writers and stars, including Alex Gino and Anna Konkle. But best of all, viewers get access to Bloom herself, who shares her story as well as personal photos, offering a fun and candid glimpse into her life and legacy. The discovery of the entity is reason enough to enjoy this movie. But for an author who has fought book bans for decades, her political insights are not only fascinating, but terrifyingly relevant, and the docs make that clear.

How to watch: Judy Bloom Foreverrelease plan is undecided.

Pod generation

One of my personal favorites at Sundance 2023 is writer/director Sophie Barthez’s soft sci-fi comedy about parenthood. Barthes first thrilled me with her thriller twisted comedy cold souls, which starred Paul Giamatti as himself. More specifically, it’s a version of himself that’s been burdened by the weight of his soul and kept in an experimental reservoir outside his body. , has an equally compelling yet alarming premise. Imagine Apple and its sleek white minimalist aesthetic entering the artificial womb business.with Chiwetel Ejiofor game of thronesEmilia Clarke co-stars as a frantic parent-to-be in this mind-bending romp with growling wit.

How to watch: pod generationrelease plan is undecided.

Lylane

One of the most compelling films of Sundance 2023 is this romantic comedy set in South London. Director Layne Allen Miller, Lylane star David Johnson (industry) and Vivian Opara (class) as a heartbroken 20-something who might fatefully cross paths and fall into a new love.Humble beginnings in the bathroom – not so cute(opens in new window) It spins quickly into an accidental first date full of fun, jokes, surprises, and a bit of intrusion and intrusion. (Hey, goodbye is a mess.) Painted in saturated colors, paced like a dance party, the kinetic ensemble is brought to life by his cast. Lylane It’s pure joy to watch. But it’s Jonson and Opala, with their killer comedy timing and off-the-charts chemistry, that make this movie skyrocket.

How to watch: Lyle Lane Coming to Hulu on March 31st.