The days are long and the movies are constant. Thus is life at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, rushing from line to line, theater to theater in the freezing cold surrounded by gorgeous snow covered mountains and city streets. I’ve been very busy trying to catch as many films as the daylight will allow, so let’s do a quick review recap of some films I saw over the last few days to keep an eye one!
There’s a lot of movies, so I’ll keep these reviews shorter than usual.
“Twinless“

Easily a festival favorite for me, “Twinless” broke my heart into a thousand pieces while also making me laugh out loud. Powered by a career best performance by Dylan O’Brien and a razor sharp script from writer, director and co-star James Sweeney, “Twinless” follows Dennis (Sweeney) and Rocky (O’Brien) two twins who have lost their twin brothers under tragic circumstances who meet in a support group. Longing for their other half, they develop a strong bond that helps them process their loss. But a revelation challenges this new found bromance, and their lives may be irrevocably changed because of it.
“Twinless” can be compared to a few other films, but naming them would actually spoil some key moments that really drive the emotional weight of its narrative. “Twinless” is a beautiful and hilarious look at grief, loss, connection, loneliness and friendship with O’Brien delivering his most vulnerable performance to date. Not only does he solidify himself as a bonafide star, “Twinless” allows him to showcase his immense talent, varied range and fearlessness as a performer. It is a genuine crowd pleaser and is sure to make the Best of the Fest for me.
“If I Had Legs I Would Kick You“

One of the best film titles of Sundance, “If I Had Legs I Would Kick You” left me both in awe of its technical achievements but bewildered by its overall construction. It is essentially an unrelenting panic attack for two hours straight, with Rose Byrne as a mother of a sick daughter desperately trying to keep it all together as things spiral out of control in every way around her. I’m not entirely sure what to do with “If I Had Legs I Would Kick You,” a film that is so chaotic and bleak it borders on misery porn. But it is also expertly crafted, the editing and sound design overwhelming in the best of ways and Byrne completely giving herself over to the material. She is phenomenal here, and “If I Had Legs I Would Kick You” doesn’t work without someone so committed to the role as Byrne.
The film around her leaves a lot to chew on thematically, but is at times so surreal and anxiety ridden it can get lost beneath the manic pacing and frantic trauma that befalls the protagonist. “If I Had Legs I Would Kick You” is expert filmmaking that struggles to find an audience, a film that is visually bold but challenging, and not always in the ways we need it to be. I kept asking myself who is this for, and while I’m all for more honest films about motherhood, “If I Had Legs I Would Kick You” left me unable to stop thinking about it but also feeling like I never want to sit through that ever again.
“Oh, Hi!“

I’m such a sucker for single location, small cast chamber pieces, and “Oh, Hi!” has both in spades. A quirky, absurd, uncomfortably funny tale of a date night gone wrong, writer/director Sophie Brooks injects rapid fire banter and situational comedy to deliver her commentary on modern relationships. “Oh, Hi!” is millennial “Misery” in a series of unfortunate misunderstandings, all of which continually escalate as things go from bad to worse to weird and back again. Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman don’t only have charming romantic chemistry, but they also have electric comedic chemistry as well, constantly playing off each other in some truly outrageous situations.
“Oh, Hi!” does require a wavelength to accept some of the contrivances and outrageous places it goes, as Brooks takes things pretty far almost to a fault. If you’re not completely dialed into the characters and the wackiness of it all, the misgivings in the script will start to become insufferable, and “Oh, Hi!” can go from exciting to frustrating almost immediately. For my part, I was completely dialed in to its absurdist tone and almost fantastical elements, the comedy and excellent performances overshadowing any of the narrative pitfalls that swayed others. “Oh, Hi!” is the perfect date movie, a twisted rom-com for the modern day and is sure to be a crowd pleaser whenever it comes to theaters.
“The Ballad of Wallis Island“

The sweetest film at Sundance this year, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is infectious, warm blanket cinema that is packed with undeniable charm and heart. Fans of John Carney (“Sing Street,” “Begin Again,” “Once”) will love this taut little film, as it borrows many of his music driven movie strengths and keeps that love for melodies at its core. It follows a folk musician who arrives to a secluded island for a small private gig, only to find an eccentric, lonely lottery winner who has hired him and (unbeknownst to the artist) his estranged partner for a performance for one. “The Ballad of Wallis Island” never loses itself in manipulative sentimentality, allowing itself to unfold organically even when its unfolding within predictability. James Key as the quirky millionaire is the true emotional crux as well as most of the laugh out loud comedy. He is so delightful, much like the film itself, and “The Ballad of Wallis Island” feels almost impossible to get completely swept up by.
Seriously, this film is just so sweet and lovely. I left with a big smile on my face even after Key’s more heartfelt moments did bring a few tears to my eye. “The Ballad of Wallis Island” reminds us all of how important it is to remember what was lost but never cling onto the past so much we forget to live in the present. Of all of the films I’ve seen so far at Sundance, I can’t recommend “The Ballad of Wallis Island” enough. It’s not even my favorite of the fest, but it is one that I feel comfortable recommending to pretty much everyone.
“Together“

“Together” is why seeing films in a packed out auditorium at a festival for their world premiere is the best way to watch movies. The first truly great midnighter of the festival, “Together” is a certified banger built on the backs of budding body horror acclaim. Functioning like a reverse “The Substance,” the film is packed with gnarly practical effects, consistent laughs and incredible tension throughout. There are some chilling set pieces and sequences here, with writer/director Michael Shanks delivering some of the most terrifying horror atmosphere I’ve seen in a while. I don’t get unsettled often, but “Together” had plenty of moments that creeped me out and had me holding my breath in anticipation. Real life married couple Allison Brie and Dave Franco are totally game for however far they are asked to go, and perfectly capture a co-dependent couple on the rocks while embracing many of the more physically challenging aspects of their roles.
“Together” is a blast, and while it may not go as far as its inspirations, it is the most fun I’ve had watching a movie all festival. It possesses the most broad appeal for horror heads, packed with haunting set pieces, eerie score, gruesome violence and yes, comedy just to release some of its unrelenting build up. Oh, and “Together” has one of the best Spice Girls needle drops of all time. It is a must see when it comes to theaters (here’s hoping because it is best with a crowd) and the first real can’t miss films to come out of Sundance.
There are still more films on the way, so keep checking back for more quick reviews and full reviews throughout the year as these films begin to reach general audiences. Stay tuned for more Sundance 2025 coverage!