Miao is praised for her sharp control of mood, creating a dark and heavy atmosphere that carries tension through the modern scenes. The film is also recognized for its focus on the 1885 Rock Springs Massacre, a brutal attack on Chinese immigrant miners, with the flashbacks described as its most powerful and intense moments. Kelly Marie Tran delivers a strong, tightly controlled performance as a grieving widow, while Benedict Wong brings haunting clarity to the tragic past.
Vera Miao makes her feature debut as writer and director of Rock Springs. After her husband’s death, Emily (Tran) moves with her daughter and mother to a secluded cottage in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where they soon uncover sinister secrets hidden in the woods behind their home.
Featuring Fiona Fu, Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars, Raya and the Last Dragon), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), and newcomer Aria Kim, alongside Jimmy O. Yang, Ricky He, Mark Krysko, and Geoff Scovell.
It was one of the standout genre entries of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The project brings together Macro Film Studios, Gold House, and Juniper Productions, produced by Marta Fernandez, Charles D. King, Poppy Hanks, Zhi-Hao Ley, Mabel Tam, and Vera Miao.