![]() Just a few years later in 2004, the Sundance Film Festival would again be responsible for an act of diastrophism within the horror genre with the debut of James Wan’s Saw. ![]() Sundance gave a platform to prove the worth of the film which in return, revolutionized the genre. Without the word of mouth from the Sundance Film Festival, The Blair Witch Project ‘s fate would also look drastically different. Without The Blair Witch Project, the found footage genre, which is still alive today, would be only a shell of what it currently is. This buzz was crucial for this strange and innovative indie horror gem to get wide distribution and become the horror legend it is today. The isolation of Sundance bred a hysteria that made the film one of the most talked about films of the Festival as a whole. The filmmakers promoted the film as being real-found footage. Starting their groundbreaking use of the internet to build a cultural identity for the film the year prior, by the time the film premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival it was the subject of mass attention. Perhaps the most iconic example of this came in 1999 with the debut of The Blair Witch Project. These films have even gone on to radically evolve the genre itself with the domino trail behind this push being traced back to the festival they debuted at. This force has historically continued past the Festival itself and is a leading reason why so many of the horror films that have debuted at the festival have continued their momentum into wide release to become defining editions in the wider horror genre. The combination of no expectations plus cabin fever has allowed new horror features to blow up and explode with hype and energy. In return, Sundance has become a foundational force in the development of the horror genre. Sundance has long defied this notion, and instead has promoted horror as a key piece of the Festival’s identity. Outside of a handful of midnight selections, the horror genre has sadly taken the role of the ugly duckling in most film festivals and celebrations of the cinematic art form like the awards season. Another unique facet of the festival is its inclusion of genre films. There is something about the annual Sundance Film Festival that has allowed for the discovery and celebration of new talent that is unique compared to the other major film festivals throughout the year. The thin mountain air of Park City, Utah, is a perfect setting for sparks to grow into wildfires.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |