Frightening Strikes

The Shadow of God is a theological horror that aims to subvert genre expectations by posing a provocative question: what if God is the villain? It’s a premise that promises depth, dread, and philosophical tension. Unfortunately, the execution doesn't live up to the idea. World Weary Priest Mason Harper is an experienced but weary exorcist, who returns to his hometown seeking respite after a series of exorcists are murdered on the same day. With a hotline to the Vatican, Mason is clearly valued by the powers that be in the ongoing war against evil. As he settles in and rekindles friendship with Tanis from his pre-priesthood days, he's plagued by visions of his father, Angus - a man he believed long dead, and who left Mason with deep physical and emotional scars. Initially, Mason wants to help his father, in spite of the past, believing that his behaviour back then was caused by demonic intervention. But as the plot unfolds, the truth becomes far more disturbing. In a surprisin...

Nobody Leaves ( also known as Braid) is a surreal psychological horror that explores female friendship through a lens of childhood, trauma, and twisted loyalty. The story follows Petula and Tilda (Imogen Waterhouse & Sarah Hay), two fugitives on the run after a police raid wipes out their drug stash and puts them deep into debt with their supplier. Desperate and out of options, they return to their hometown and seek shelter in the mansion of Daphne (Madeleine Brewer), a wealthy childhood friend. The plan? Get close, play nice, and extract the money from Daphne that they need to survive. The Reunion But this is no ordinary reunion. Petula anticipates that Daphne will insist that they revive a game the trio once played as children - one that comes with roles they must adopt and three strict rules: everyone must play, no outsiders allowed, and, ominously, nobody leaves. Tilda is hesitant but Petula convinces her that taking part might be their only way out of their predicament. What ...

825 Forest Road tells the story of a town, Ashland Falls, haunted by the ghost of a long-dead resident, Helen Foster, who has terrorised the locals for decades. When newcomer Chuck Wilson arrives, he finds himself drawn into the mystery surrounding Helen and her former home at 825 Forest Road - an address that, curiously, doesn’t appear on any map. The film opens promisingly, offering a glimpse of the fear that grips the town as Ashley and her friend conduct their own investigation into the legend of Forest Road. Their conversation is interrupted by an unseen and threatening presence, hinting at the dark forces at play and setting the stage for the suspense to come. A Sinister Past Chuck moves to Ashland Falls with his wife, Maria, and his sister, Isabelle, following the tragic death of their mother in a car accident - an accident that occurred while Isabelle was driving. The family settle into a house that’s been on the market for some time, unaware that the previous owner committed ...

Attachment is a Danish horror film that blends the supernatural with a tender love story. Set against the backdrop of Jewish folklore and mysticism, it explores themes of love, family, and cultural identity. As the story unfolds, it delves into relationships, tradition, and the presence of something eerie beneath it all. Instant Connection Maja (Josephine Park) is a former actress living in Denmark meets Leah (Ellie Kendrick), a Jewish woman from London. The two have an instant connection, and what starts as a whirlwind romance quickly escalates when Leah is injured after suffering a mysterious seizure. Concerned for her health, Maja accompanies Leah back to her mother’s house in a Jewish neighbourhood in London. Ellie warns Maja about her "weird mother" but undeterred, Maja steps up to try and win over Chana (Sofie Gråbøl).  While one might expect her to disapprove of Maja's relationship with her daughter,  it's not obvious that this is the reason for her hostility....

It's What's Inside is a sharp, snappy and stylish modern horror comedy that will keep you guessing and wondering what's coming next. And, in truth, it's pretty much as clever as it thinks it is. The Gathering The story kicks off with a glimpse into the relationship between Shelby and Cyrus, where sympathies veer towards Shelby - Cyrus, it seems, struggles with the basics of being an emotionally mature partner. The tension between them is clear but they put this to one side as they reunite with their old college friends after eight years, gathering for a pre-wedding celebration at the house of their soon-to-be-married friend, Reuben. With a blend of vintage charm and the avant-garde, the house itself feels like an extension of the film’s offbeat energy. As the group reconnects over drinks and nostalgia, they reflect on an old scandal - the expulsion of their former classmate, Forbes.  Through a cleverly edited flashback montage, we quickly piece together the details of...

Longlegs opens with a bleak,1970s-inspired 8mm aesthetic that immediately establishes an ominous tone. It wastes no time in introducing the titular Longlegs, who appears at the home of a young girl and confronts her in a deeply unsettling encounter, setting the stage for the creeping tension that follows. Serial Killer Cold Case Fast-forward a number of years and we're introduced to Lee Harker, a rookie FBI agent whose strained relationship with her mother (Alicia Witt) adds another layer of mystery. Harker is thrust into a cold case involving a serial killer, with her unerring intuition or psychic ability - you choose - viewed as a valuable asset by her superiors. As Harker delves deeper into the mystery with the help of her boss, Carter (Blair Underwood), she uncovers a history of shocking inter-family violence with overtones of the occult and alarmingly, a possible link to her own past. Audience vs Critics Longlegs was received favourably by critics with a more mixed reception...

Rachel: Teresa Palmer Anthony: Steven Cree Elliot: Tristan Ruggeri Helen: Barbara Marten Director: Taneli Mustonen Writer:  Taneli Mustonen and Aleksi Hyvärinen Released: 2022 Something Otherworldly at Play The Twin is a psychological horror film that follows Rachel and her husband Anthony as they relocate to a remote Scandinavian town with their son Elliot after the tragic death of his twin brother, Nathan. However, Rachel soon begins to suspect that something otherworldly is at play, as Elliot's behaviour changes in disturbing ways that seem to be linked to his deceased twin. At first, Elliot's change in attitude seems to stem from his own grief. In response, Rachel becomes more protective than usual, while Anthony takes a hands-off approach, believing it isn't healthy for Elliot to have every whim indulged. As a result, the couple couple become separated by their shared grief. The English Eccentric Rachel struggles to fit in to the lo the community, particularly as ...

Reina: Simone Policano Cory: Jeff Ayars Zeke: Drew Beckas Director: Omri Dorani Writers: Omri Dorani & Rob Harmon Release: 2019 "This is Our Home" explores the dynamics of a fractured relationship, against a backdrop of mystery and emotional discord. As the story of Reyna and Cory unfolds, we are met with flashes of their past interwoven with a present bedevilled by unresolved issues and an unsettling encounter with a boy who claims he is their son. It kicks off with Reyna (Rey) and Cory heading out to her childhood home for some space to try and repair their relationship, with just a hint as to what lies behind their current struggles. They seem to be genuinely in love but vacillate between displays of affection and vicious bickering so clearly, there is work to be done. We are given glimpses of happier times but it's clear that they harbour a traumatic secret creating a tension that lingers throughout the film. On their first night at the property, after a plea...

  Kate: Lora Burke Beth: Tessa Kozma Hal: Colin Paradine Mary: Kristen MacCulloch Lewis: Nick Smyth Director: Craig Wallace Writer:  Craig Wallace & Ian Malone Release:  2021 From the opening scene this is an intriguing tale where nothing is as it seems to be. And "seems to be" is a theme running through the story which is the beauty of "Motherly", weaving a narrative through a labyrinth of secrets managing to be both intriguing and entertaining. Kate and her 9 year old daughter Beth have escaped a traumatic past and now find themselves hiding in isolation in a rural area. From the start, it's evident that there's tension between them, with Beth displaying defiance and a longing to be with her dad and Kate, who is protective but somewhat controlling and prone to outbursts of frustrated anger.  They are not entirely alone as help is on hand in the form of Hal who is there to keep an eye on them and ensure their safety, especially when Kate suspects that a...

Estrella: Paola Lara El Shine: Juan Ramon Lopez Morro: Nery Arredondo Tucsi: Hanssel Casillas Pop: Rodrigo Cortez El Chino : Tenoch Huerta Caco: Ianis Guerrero Director: Issa Lopez Writer: Issa Lopez Release: 2019 Tigers Don't Cry isn't a horror film in the strictest sense. The horror is more of the human kind although it's interwoven with del Toro-esque fantasy visuals and supernatural visions, creating a modern fairy tale that will both enrage you and break your heart. The story opens, in an un-named Mexican city, with Estrella (Paola Lara) at school with her and her classmates having to take cover as a gunfight erupts outside. We are quickly exposed to the world of violence that surrounds Estrella and it’s clear that this is commonplace as she walks home past a dead body without flinching. On her return home, Estrella finds an empty apartment and waits for her mother to return. After many hours, she is driven to seek refuge with a gang of orphans who have built ...

Rose: Sophie Rundle Sam: Matt Stokoe Amber: Olive Gray Director: Jennifer Sheridan Writer: Matt Stokoe Release: 2021 Rose: A Love Story tells the tale of Rose (Sophie Rundle) and Sam (Matt Stokoe) who lead an isolated and challenging, albeit cozy, life in a small cottage in the wilds of a forest in Wales. You could be forgiven for thinking that they have survived some sort of post-apocalyptic event but their living conditions owe more to Rose’s mysterious medical condition than an external event. Rose’s condition is never fully explained but we get a clue as to what it might be very early on when you notice their different dietary requirements . They have very little contact with the outside world and live off the land with Sam trapping rabbits and growing vegetables while Rose spends her days tapping out a novel on an old-fashioned typewriter. As they move through the timescape of their strange little world, it’s clear that the couple are devoted to each other to the extent that...

  Summary and Review of Smile Dr Rose Cotter: Sosie Bacon Trevor: Jessie T. Usher Joel: Kyle Gallner Dr Madleine Northcott: Robin Weigert Laura Weaver: Caitlin Stasey Director: Parker Finn Writer: Parker Finn Release: 2022 After witnessing a bizarre and traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality. "Smile" gets to the point without preamble when Rose, a committed but overworked hospital therapist, witnesses the horrific suicide of a patient, which deeply affects her as she experienced her own mother’s suicide as a child. Before dying, the patient jabbers in a terrified fashion about something that has been stalking her. As she dies, she smiles in the most terrifying way and then the horror really begins. Soon after, frightening o...

Scott: Jon Foster Penny: Sarah Jones Mr Jones: Mark Steger Director: Karl Mueller Writer: Karl Mueller Release: 2013 Not so long ago, this was billed as a must-watch by “best horror film” lists and I eagerly looked forward to giving “Mr Jones'” a spin. It’s essentially a found-footage film with cabin-in-the-woods/folklore horror themes providing an interesting take that gives the genre a shot in the arm but doesn’t live up to its early promise.  Scott (Jon Foster) and Penny (Sarah Jones) are a couple in crisis. Their relationship needs a kickstart and Scott’s documentary-making career has stalled so, to breathe new life into both, the couple set off to live in a remote woodland cabin for a year to mend their relationship and provide Scott with some much needed inspiration to make a new nature documentary. After an initial honeymoon period, the cracks start to reappear and Scott sinks into a state of lethargy. Penny, who has been a source of support and encouragement, becomes ...

  A Spoonful of Sugar is something of a roller-coaster ride in that it will have you feeling either queasy or exhilarated by the end. Also like a roller coaster, it's not to everyone's taste but it is a strangely compelling mix of dysfunctional family dynamics and sinister intentions. The film kicks off with Millicent (Morgan Saylor) undergoing an interview for an unusual babysitting job with Rebecca (Kat Foster) and her husband, Jacob (Myko Olivier). The charge is their young son, Johnny (Danillo Crovetti), who suffers from a range of allergies and is also non-verbal. There are hints that more specialist intervention is required for Johnny but Rebecca is adamant that he can be treated at home. Rebecca's career as a successful author means frequent trips away so she needs to arrange Johnny's care quickly. Despite Rebecca's doubts about her experience and a lack of background checks, Millicent is offered the job as she forms an instant rapport with Johnny, and this ...