Usually, a trailer that makes you second guess your decision to see the film it promotes would be deemed an absolute failure in advertising. But when it comes to horror movies, the inspiration of that kind of apprehension is all part of the plan. Having already made the decision to see XX, I battled through the first trailer for the forthcoming four-story anthology horror piece with discomfort and disease. It’s not that the film doesn’t look good, but that it may in fact be too effective in scaring me senseless during my inevitable midnight viewing. Of course, that’s what I’m signing up for… but it doesn’t mean I’m ready for it. You never are.

XX, which will enjoy its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, features a quartet of horror stories, each directed by a different visionary female filmmaker. Of the troupe, you’re likely most familiar with Karyn Kusama, director of Girlfight, Jennifer’s Body, Aeon Flux, and last year’s remarkable thriller The Invitation; Kusama hits XX with a piece titled “Her Only Living Son.” Also in tow are entries by Southbound director and V/H/S producer Roxanne Benjamin (for XX, she helms “Don’t Fall”) and short film director Jovanka Vuckovic (hers is “The Box”). Perhaps most interesting is the fourth member of the troupe: musician Anna Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, who brings “The Birthday Party” to the mix. The four films are strung together by a connective sequence directed by animator Sofia Carrillo.

While much of XX‘s cast, like its legion of authors, can be described as up-and-coming, you’ll likely recognize a few faces in the feature: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night‘s Sheila Vand, The Final Girl‘s Angela Trimbur, the forthcoming series Powerless‘ Christina Kirk, and the ubiquitous Melanie Lynskey. And as much fun as it is to discover new talents through films like these, it’s always comforting to have a familiar face in store. Personally, I’ll definitely need that extra bit of comfort when I’m careening through this sure-to-be-frightening anthology.

XX premieres at the Sundance Film Festival later this month, before releasing on demand on Feb. 17. Will you be checking out the film?

Featured Image: Magnet Releasing