FILMQUEST ’26: The Avalanche Is a Lynchian Existential Horror That Induces Anxiety About Death

THE AVALANCHE, directed by Johnny Coffeen and premiering at FilmQuest ’26, is a black and white horror film exploring existential themes about death and consciousness. Two exes, Benny and Lou Taylor Pucci and Zoey (Alexandra Essoe), wake in a snow-buried cabin with no memory of arrival and uncertainty about whether they’re alive or dead. As days pass with failed rescue attempts, they reconnect emotionally while experiencing nightmares and visions of terrifying beings. The film employs Lynchian dream logic and uses color for past sequences while keeping the present in black and white, creating a surreal purgatory atmosphere. Shot in one location with minimal gore, the film relies on subtle horror elements like mysterious figures and cabin décor to induce fear. Coffeen’s approach blends existentialist and absurdist philosophy with psychological terror, examining themes of mortality and consciousness.

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