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At Sundance, 'Rock Springs' Draws Praise for Its History-Driven Core and Performances

Critics highlight a harrowing middle act featuring standout turns from Benedict Wong plus Jimmy O. Yang.

Overview

  • Vera Miao’s debut is an official selection at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, screening in the Midnight section with a 1 hour 37 minute runtime.
  • The story follows Emily, played by Kelly Marie Tran, as she relocates with her daughter and mother-in-law to Rock Springs after a family loss.
  • Reviews single out the film’s centerpiece depiction of the 1885 Rock Springs Massacre, with reporting that at least 28 were killed and higher estimates cited.
  • The Hollywood Reporter calls the film a bold blend of grief, horror, and American history that ultimately pays off, with praise for Tran and newcomer Aria Kim.
  • FandomWire lauds the massacre sequence and performances but finds the opening and closing acts less cohesive, noting a creature metaphor that feels thematically strained.