‘Rock Springs’ Brings Horror From the Past Into Its Tale of Contemporary Grief
Summary
Vera Miao's film, featuring Kelly Marie Tran and Benedict Wong, made its debut in the Midnight program at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, showcasing fresh talent and innovative storytelling in the cinematic landscape.
Key Insights
What historical event does 'Rock Springs' reference, and why is it significant to the film?
'Rock Springs' draws from the 1885 Rock Springs massacre, when many Chinese miners were killed amid widespread anti-Chinese violence in the American West following the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The film uses this real historical atrocity as its foundation, exploring how this brutal past haunts the present-day town and its inhabitants. Director Vera Miao incorporates a 20-minute sequence depicting a 19th-century Chinese labor camp where Benedict Wong's character witnesses the slaughter of his friends and family, creating a horror that extends beyond supernatural elements to address the unhealed wounds of inherited trauma and systemic racism in American history.
What is the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival, and why is 'Rock Springs' screening there?
The Midnight section is a timeslot at the Sundance Film Festival reserved specifically for horror and experimental films. 'Rock Springs' premiered in this category on January 25, 2026, because it is a horror film that blends supernatural elements with experimental storytelling techniques. The Midnight program showcases bold, unconventional cinema that pushes genre boundaries, making it an appropriate venue for Vera Miao's ambitious directorial debut, which combines contemporary grief narratives with historical horror and supernatural mythology.