The Sundance Institute announced its Midnight slate Monday and it appears that ladies are leading the way with seven of the nine films announced featuring bad ass women. From horror to comedy and directors Rob Zombie to Kevin Smith, the iconic Midnight Section promises another year of challenging and rewarding films for cinemagoers.
So without further adieu, let’s take a look at the first nine films having their World Premiere at Sundance 2016:
31 – Rob Zombie (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
Shot in just 20 days, 31 tells the story of five friends who are kidnapped on the day before Halloween and then held hostage in a terrifying place called Murder World. While trapped, they must play a violent game called 31, in which the mission is to survive 12 hours against a gang of evil clowns.
Cast: Sheri Moon Zombie, Malcolm McDowell, Richard Brake, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Meg Foster.
Antibirth- Danny Perez (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
In a desolate community full of drug-addled marines and rumors of kidnapping, a wild-eyed stoner named Lou wakes up after a crazy night of partying with symptoms of a strange illness and recurring visions. As she struggles to get a grip on reality, the stories of conspiracy spread.
Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Chloë Sevigny, Mark Webber, Meg Tilly, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos.
The Blackout Experiments – Rich Fox (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
A group of friends discover the dark underworld of the ultra-scary, psychosexual horror experience called Blackout. But what starts as a thrill ride through the unknown becomes deeply personal, developing into an obsession that hijacks their lives and blurs the line between reality and paranoid fantasy.
Cast: Abel Horowitz, Allison Fogerty, Bob Glouberman, Russell Eaton, Kristjan Thor, Josh Randall.
Carnage Park- Mickey Keating (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
The year is 1978. A team of wannabe crooks botch a small-town bank heist and flee with their hostage deep into the California desert, where they inexplicably find themselves in a harrowing fight for survival against a psychotic ex-military sniper.
Cast: Ashley Bell, Pat Healy, Alan Ruck, Darby Stanchfield, James Landry Hébert, Larry Fessenden.
The Greasy Strangler – Jim Hosking (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
When Big Ronnie and his son Brayden meet lone female tourist Janet on Big Ronnie’s Disco Walking Tour—the best and only disco walking tour in the city—a fight for Janet’s heart erupts between father and son, and the infamous Greasy Strangler is unleashed.
Cast: Michael St. Michaels, Sky Elobar, Elizabeth De Razzo, Gil Gex, Jesse Keen, Joe David Walters.
Outlaws and Angels- JT Mollner (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
With a notorious bounty hunter closing in on their trail, a gang of cold-blooded outlaws invades the home of a seemingly innocent frontier family, where an unexpected game of cat and mouse ensues throughout the night, leading to seduction, role reversal, and ultimately bloody revenge.
Cast: Chad Michael Murray, Francesca Eastwood, Luke Wilson, Teri Polo, Madisen Beaty, Nathan Russell.
Trash Fire – Richard Bates Jnr (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
When Owen is forced to confront the past he’s been running from his whole adult life, he and his girlfriend, Isabel, become entangled in a horrifying web of lies, deceit, and murder. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be scarred for life.
Cast: Adrian Grenier, Angela Trimbur, AnnaLynne McCord, Fionnula Flanagan, Matthew Gray Gubler, Ray Santiago.
Under The Shadow – Babak Anvari (UK, Jordan) – World Premiere, Midnight
Tehran, 1988. As the Iran-Iraq War rumbles into its eighth year, a mother and daughter are slowly torn apart by the bombing campaigns on the city coupled with the country’s bloody revolution. As they struggle to stay together amidst these terrors, a mysterious evil stalks through their apartment.
Cast: Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, Arash Marandi.
Yoga Hosers – Kevin Smith (USA) – World Premiere, Midnight
22 years after Clerks debuted at Sundance, Kevin Smith returns with his latest film Yoga Hosers starring Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith as smartphone, yoga loving besties Colleen Collette and Colleen McKenzie. When these sophomores from Winnipeg get invited to a senior party by the school hottie, the Colleens accidentally uncover an ancient evil buried beneath their Canadian convenience store.
Cast: Lily-Rose Depp, Harley Quinn Smith, Johnny Depp, Justin Long, Austin Butler, Tyler Posey.
In its 30th year, Sundance 2016 will take place in various locations from Park City and Salt Lake City to Ogden and Sundance, Utah from January 21-31.
If you’re interesting in heading to the Festival, ticket passes, packages and single ticket sales can now be viewed and purchased online here.
