Park City, UT - The Eccles Theater held its breath on January 24th as writer-director Bryn Chainey unveiled his feature directorial debut, Rabbit Trap, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Premiering in the coveted Midnight section, this isn't your typical jump-scare horror flick. Chainey, a British-Australian filmmaker wiht a clear passion for sound and folklore, has crafted a chillingly atmospheric experience that burrows deep under the skin.
"I wanted it to be entirely about sound, basically. The best-sounding horror movie ever, that's the goal," Chainey declared during the post-premiere Q&A, eliciting laughter that likely masked a shared unease. He wasn't entirely joking. Rabbit Trap is built upon a foundation of meticulously crafted soundscapes, a thrumming, pulsing audio tapestry woven with the tools of early electronic music pioneers. Chainey's fascination with analog gadgetry led to a crucial decision: the film would be shot on 35mm and set in 1976, grounding the story in a tangible, almost tactile reality.
At the heart of Rabbit Trap are Daphne (Rosy McEwen), an experimental electronic musician, and her husband, Darcy (Dev Patel). Seeking inspiration, they retreat to the remote Welsh countryside. but their escape is shadowed by unspoken personal issues,cracks in their dialogue that threaten to widen. When Darcy unwittingly steps into a fairy ring,their troubles take a decidedly unsettling turn with the arrival of an unnerving child (Jade Croot) who seems to materialize from the woods.
This isn't just a story about a creepy kid. It's a descent into the heart of folklore, where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur. Chainey draws inspiration from Welsh folklore, where fairies and goblins aren't simply evil entities. "For me, fairies and goblins and pixies, they're not evil," he explains. "In the Welsh folklore, they're not evil, they're not good, they're sort of recalcitrant and kind of needy and inconsistent, just like children. They want attention." He cites fantasy illustrator Brian Froud as a key influence, recalling how Froud's work felt less like superstition and more like "a strange expression of nature" during his childhood.
Beyond the unsettling presence of the child, Rabbit Trap finds its magic in the sensual omnipresence of the natural world. The Welsh landscape isn't just a backdrop; it's a character in itself. The forest looms, moss creeps, and fungi sprout with an unsettling vitality. "This is a really intimate story about just three characters and a house," Chainey explains. "It felt important to let nature - for it to feel big, as well, and for nature to infiltrate that part of the film... For us, the key was about making everything feel natural, earthy, textural. I wanted a movie I could touch."
As Daphne and Darcy grapple with the increasingly bizarre events unfolding around them, they must confront not only the external threat but also the internal demons they've been desperately trying to suppress. Will they be able to unravel the mystery of the rabbit trapper before it consumes them both? Rabbit Trap promises a chilling exploration of folklore, sound, and the fragile bonds that hold us together when faced with the unknown. It's a film that lingers long after the credits roll, leaving you questioning the rustling leaves and the shadows that dance just beyond the edge of the light.