It Feeds Summary and Review - Possession With a Psychic Twist

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It Feeds is a possession horror with a twist. Rather than inhabiting and corrupting its host in the usual way, the demon attaches itself to victims, using them to feed on others for survival, and it has a voracious appetite. When paired with the protagonist’s unusual psychic ability, the film brings a fresh angle to familiar territory.

An Extraordinary Secret

Cynthia Winstone is a therapist with an extraordinary secret: she can enter people’s minds and delve into their deepest fears, helping them to overcome trauma from the inside out. It’s an ability she keeps hidden as a past tragedy, involving her husband’s death and the forced relocation of her family, has left scars that haven't quite healed. Now she works under the radar, aided by her daughter Jordan, who’s training to join the unconventional family business.

Their quiet life is shattered when a panicked girl, Riley, barges into their home, begging for Cynthia's help. She's in a hurry as she has escaped her father and knows he’ll be there any moment. Before he arrives, Jordan learns a chilling detail: Riley sees a presence watching her “like a hungry dog.” Moments later, her father shows up. Hostile and defensive, he's determined to take Riley home and he hustles his daughter away leaving behind more questions than answers.

Jordan is intrigued. Cynthia is not so keen to get involved. Experience has taught her what happens when you peer too far into the dark, sensing that that some things are beyond her abilities. But Jordan’s curiosity - and her instinct to help - gets the better of her and, with the help of side-kick Agatha, she investigates further without her mother's knowledge, leading to a shocking discovery and catastrophic consequences that threatens to destroy them all.

A Well-Made Film

Let’s start with the basics. It Feeds is a well-made film. It has a solid and engaging plot that won’t redefine the genre, but it’s thoughtfully structured and visually striking. The lighting and set design deserve a nod - a moody, muted palette reflect the doom-laden atmosphere - and Chad Archibald's direction keeps things tight enough to hold your attention throughout - mostly. I say mostly, as the run time of 1hr 40m allowed the narrative to meander at times and some goodwill is lost as the viewer quietly urges a pick-up of the pace.

Performances are strong, with Cynthia and Jordan making a convincing mother-daughter duo. Cynthia’s “mind exploration” ability opens the door to some creative set pieces and flashbacks, which the film uses effectively - a nice device for both plot and mood. 

Missing the Mark

However, not everything hits the mark. The score is one of the film’s weaker points - flat, monotonal and intrusive at times - meaning that moments of tension were interrupted by a jarring soundscape, instead of enhancing the mood 

The demon itself won’t break new ground for seasoned horror fans, but it’s used well and drips with malevolence. The film builds tension effectively, though a few key scenes feel stretched, as if padded to meet the runtime. On the upside, the jump scares are used sparingly and are well-executed. a couple could easily slot into a Brandon Christensen film, which is no small compliment (see my reviews for Z and Still/Born).

This all builds to a neat, layered resolution - a story within a story within a story - which wraps things up in a satisfying way but some seasoned fans might find the conclusion a touch too familiar.

It Feeds doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but turns it well. Creepy, thoughtful, and grounded by strong performances and solid design, this is one to catch if you like your horror slower paced with a malevolent edge that lingers. And the creative closing credits deserve a shoutout: moody, stylised, and strong enough to have been the film’s opening sequence.

3.5/5

Ashley Greene as Cynthia Winstone
Ellie O’Brien as Jordan Winstone
Shawn Ashmore as Randall Harris
Shayelin Martin as Riley Harris
Juno Rinaldi as Agatha Baker
Mark Taylor as John Otis
Julian Richings as the retired doctor
Written and directed by Chad Archibald

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