We Are What We Are, a remake of the Mexican horror film of the same name, premiered at Sundance in January to very good reviews.  The first trailer is here, and it is effectively creepy.  I kept waiting for the jump scare, but instead the clip burns slowly and deeply.  The story is set amid a torrential rainstorm that shines a light on the seemingly wholesome Parkers: "As the unrelenting downpour continues to flood their small town, the local authorities begin to uncover clues that bring them closer to the secret that the Parkers have held closely for so many years."

Bill Sage, Ambyr Childers, Julia Garner, Michael Parks, Kelly McGillis, Nick Damici, Wyatt Russell, and Jack Gore star.  Directed by Jim Mickle (Stake Land), We Are What We Are opens in limited release on September 27.  Watch the trailer after the jump.

Given the remake status, it is easy enough to stumble on the Parkers' secret.  If you want to stay unspoiled, don't scroll too far past the trailer---the tagline of the poster at the bottom of this post jokes the secret away.

Official synopsis:

A seemingly wholesome and benevolent family, the Parkers, have always kept to themselves, and for good reason. Behind closed doors, patriarch Frank (Bill Sage, “Boardwalk Empire”) rules his family with a rigorous ferver, determined to keep his ancestral customs intact at any cost.  As a torrential rainstorm moves into the area, tragedy strikes and his daughters Iris (Ambyr Childers, THE MASTER) and Rose (Julia Garner, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE) are forced to assume responsibilities that extend beyond those of a typical family.  As the unrelenting downpour continues to flood their small town, the local authorities begin to uncover clues that bring them closer to the secret that the Parkers have held closely for so many years.

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE also stars Michael Parks (DJANGO UNCHAINED), Golden Globe nominee Kelly McGillis (WITNESS, TOP GUN), Nick Damici (STAKE LAND), Wyatt Russell (THIS IS 40) and newcomer Jack Gore. WE ARE WHAT WE ARE was written by Mickle and Damici.  The two previously collaborated on the screenplays for Mickle’s first two features, MULBERRY STREET and STAKE LAND (winner of the “Midnight Madness” Audience Award at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival).

A re-imagining of the 2010 Mexican film of the same name, director Jim Mickle paints a gripping portrait of an introverted family struggling to keep their macabre traditions alive.

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