In the Welsh folk-horror “Rabbit Trap,” debuting director Bryn Chainey creates an disquieting acoustic atmosphere and guides his trio of actors to powerful performances. However, these flourishes serve a muddled piece that coasts on its interpretability alone. Its dramatic mechanics and aesthetics never quite coalesce into something appropriately visceral, spiritual, or meaningful, despite the story’s frequent symbolism.
The film, debuting at Sundance, comes front-loaded with intrigue. Married couple Darcy (Dev Patel) and Daphne (Rosy McEwen) live in relative isolation in the Welsh countryside. The year is 1976, and their home is filled, wall to wall, with analog audio equipment. Daphne uses it to create her avant-garde music, born of
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