Rock Springs is a sobering ghost story [Sundance review]

Courtesy of Sundance

Writer/director Vera Miao's feature debut Rock Springs is a harrowing, atmospheric and sobering ghost story. It pulls from history, specifically the Rock Springs Massacre of 1885, to spin a chilling tale that explores the legacy of trauma, racism, and immigration. Miao's film and the history it pulls from feels eerily relevant in the context of current U.S. headlines.

Set in Rock Springs, the movie follows a young girl named Gracie (Aria Kim) who moves to the town with her mother, Kim (Kelly Marie Tran), and her grandmother (Fiona Fu). It's clear early on that Gracie, who barely speaks, won't have an easy time fitting in. For instance, a blonde-haired girl makes fun of her, asking her if she's Japanese or Chinese, before Gracie shoves her to the ground. Gracie's behavior becomes more aggressive after she finds a creepy doll at a local yard sale.

Emily does her best to be there for her daughter, showing love, strength, and resilience, and Tran is one of the film's highlights. She fully commits to the role. Gracie's grandmother, meanwhile, is a first-generation Chinese immigrant who hardly speaks English. This creates a distancing between she and the rest of her family.

Immediately, Miao establishes a moody and effective atmosphere. The woods that surround Gracie's house feel and look like they could swallow her. There are several shots where the trees fill the frame and feel all-consuming. Grace increasing senses that something or someone lurks in them, and so do we as viewers. This feeling is enhanced by the unsettling sound design, which adds a sense of foreboding.

While the first 20 minutes or so largely focus on Gracie, the film then shifts back in time to the 19th Century, using the Rock Springs Massacre as a narrative device. In short, tensions between European immigrant miners and immigrant Chinese miners exploded in Rock Springs, Wyoming as a result of prejudice towards the Chinese miners and fears that they were taking jobs away from existing miners. Sound familiar? Rioters burned the homes of the Chinese workers, and as a result, 28 Chinese immigrants died.

The film's second act occurs during this period and centers around the Chinese immigrants and miners. They're led by Ah Tseng (Benedict Wong), who labors in the coal mines. He works beside his nephews, including Jimmy O. Yang's rather memorable character. The second act gives breath and life to these characters and the weighted history. It's a compelling retelling of this historical event, and it certainly humanizes the Chinese miners.

The film shifts back to the present for the final act, while successfully weaving the two distinct timelines, underscoring how we can't escape the ghosts of the past. It's a credit to the script that Miao was able to merge these two narratives together. They gel quite seamlessly.

Overall, Rock Springs is an emotional and powerful feature debut with a strong cast and a disquieting atmosphere. It's an effective ghost story that reminds us we can't escape history and its imprint on the present day. The movie's handling of the Rock Springs Massacre as a narrative device and what led to it unfortunately feels all too relevant in 2026. This is a well-crafted film that showcases Miao's talents as a filmmaker to watch.

Rock Springs premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.