HERMAN is a new psychological horror-thriller set mostly in one location but with far-reaching consequences. It’s a very powerful story with a final act that starts well, but drags on for too long. Unfortunately, as this had potential for more. Read our full Herman movie review here!

HERMAN is a psychological horror-thriller about an older man trying to live with the choices he made in life. Or rather, he is often trying to run from them, and on this fateful night, there is interference. The kind that forces him to acknowledge past misdeeds.

I was completely invested in this for the longest time, but that final act was a bit of a let-down. Not that it’s a bad story, but the pacing drags out, and the tempo is almost at a standstill for a few minutes too long. Still, this is definitely worth checking out, so I’m just irritated that it didn’t stay as good until the very end.

Continue reading our review of the Herman movie below. Find it on VOD from December 2, 2025.

Haunted or hunted?

In Herman, the title character is ready to end his life when someone comes knocking on his door. Having led a life of solitude, he tends to reflect on what he had and what he lost. On this particular night, he will be forced to come to terms with his past actions.

His misdeeds, to be exact.

Having Herman come out in December is perfect, as it has a touch of The Christmas Carol to its plot. Not in detail, but being confronted by people who insist that he look back on his life and acknowledge what has led him to this point.

Herman (Colin Ward) will find himself haunted (and almost hunted) by several dark forces. Many of which originate from himself in a roundabout way.

Will he be able to come to terms with his past, or will the late-night visitors seeking shelter at his cabin be forced to go to extremes?! Well, Herman is an older white man, so I’m sure you can imagine. No matter his objections, he will be forced to fully confront his inner demons.

Watch Herman on VOD now

Herman comes from writer-director Andrew Vogel, who has created a very engaging and fascinating story. I have seen it done better in movies such as You’ll Never Find Me and Pandemonium. However, this one does come very close at several points throughout the runtime.

Also, the cast led by Colin Ward (Mank, Perry Mason) as Herman was very strong. I especially liked Suzann Toni Petrongolo (Dead Giveaway, The Dirty South) as Sister Mary. Also in a key role is Lawson Greyson (V/H/S Halloween) as Alice, while writer-director Andrew Vogel himself also plays a very important role in front of the camera.

Personally, I loved how it was shot mostly in one location, which became increasingly claustrophobic as Herman is confronted with his past. Also, for the longest time, I didn’t look at how much time had passed. This ended somewhere during the final act, which is why the rating isn’t higher, but it is still a big recommendation to watch this horror-thriller.

Herman is out on VOD on December 2, 2025, via Scatena & Rosner Films.

Details

Director: Andrew Vogel
Script: Andrew Vogel
Cast: Colin Ward, Suzann Toni Petrongolo, Lawson Greyson, Andrew Vogel, Alex James, Soni Theresa Montgomery

Plot

Haunted by a dark force, a grizzled recluse is faced with late-night visitors seeking shelter at his cabin. As jealousy and demonic influence ignite, he is pulled into another dimension to confront his inner demons.

THE BELDHAM is a horror movie with a strong psychological horror story. This one has a small but very strong cast and a story that is as simple as it is surprising. I really liked The Beldham right until the end. Then I loved it. Read our full The Beldham movie review here!

THE BELDHAM is a psychological horror movie that felt like a nightmare combined with some sort of mental breakdown. I never felt quite sure of the direction of the plot, but I was more than willing to stay on board for the whole ride. Obviously, this means I liked what I saw.

Then the final pieces of the puzzle were revealed, and I admittedly loved it. With a runtime of just 85 minutes, it doesn’t drag on for too long, and because it is a quite dark story, I appreciated this. Less is more when someone is being tormented, as is the case in this movie.

Continue reading our The Beldham movie review below. Find it on Digital now.

Haunted or crazy?

While it’s grossly oversimplifying the plot of The Beldham, it does come down to the main character wondering if they are haunted or losing their mind. The main character is Harper (Katie Parker), a struggling new mom, who moves back in with her mother (Patricia Heaton) to get back on her feet.

It seems quite obvious that everyone around her – including mom’s boyfriend, Frank (Corbin Bernsen), and live-in aide Bette (Emma Fitzpatrick) – believes that Harper is struggling with mental illness. Whether post-partum or a mental breakdown of some kind, she needs help, and everyone is there to help her.

Unfortunately for Harper, something sinister seems determined to ruin everything for her. She keeps seeing black feathers everywhere, and both black birds and a witch-like creature are tormenting her dreams. Sometimes, even waking nightmares. It’s tough to convince someone you’re not crazy when you feel crazy about everything happening around you.

Important story and a powerful cast

This is very much a woman-driven story, so Patricia Heaton, Katie Parker, and Emma Fitzpatrick play the three most important characters. It’s difficult for us, as viewers, to know exactly who and what to trust, but that just means we’re in the same situation as Katie Parker’s “Harper”.

You’ll surely recognize Katie Parker from various Mike Flanagan productions, as she has been in most. From The Haunting of Hill House to The Fall of the House of Usher, but also Doctor Sleep. Plus, you may recognize her from the Christmas horror anthology All the Creatures Were Stirring or the 2022 sci-fi mystery Next Exit, where she co-stars with Mike Flanagan alumnus Rahul Kohli.

Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) is a three-time Emmy Award winner, but you may have already seen her in a horror movie earlier this year. She played Mother Superior in the 2025 movie The Ritual, where she co-starred with Dan Stevens and Al Pacino. Not a good movie, but that was not Patricia Heaton’s fault, as she clearly proves with her performance in The Beldham.

Finally, you may recognize Emma Fitzpatrick from the 2022 horror movie The Summoned. In The Beldham, she plays a character who tries so hard to help, but it just is not as easy as anyone would like.

Watch The Beldham on Demand now

The Beldham comes from writer-director Angela Gulner. For the longest time, I believed Angela Gulner had made a very decent and entertaining horror movie. Then came the ending of the movie, and I found myself realizing it was much more than that. To avoid spoilers, I can’t go into any details, but the final reveal in The Beldham just blew me away.

If you’ve ever been close to anyone struggling with anything similar in terms of mental struggles, then you’ll recognize the actions and reactions of all the characters in this movie. And if not, then you may feel it doesn’t make sense. I assure you, it does.

Consider yourself lucky if you’re at a place in your life where you don’t recognize or understand this. And hope that it never changes… we should all be so fortunate!

This horror movie has played at genre film festivals worldwide, including the iconic Sitges Film Festival (always a good sign). Now, you can watch it in the comfort of your own home, which you absolutely should. If you dare!

The Beldham was released on Digital and On Demand on November 7, 2025.

Details

Writer/Director: Angela Gulner
Cast: Patricia Heaton, Katie Parker, Emma Fitzpatrick, Corbin Bernsen

Plot

A new mother returns to her childhood home, only to face a malevolent, age-old entity lurking in the walls. As the haunting escalates, she’s pushed to the brink to protect her baby—and her mind.

LAZARUS on Prime Video is a new Harlan Coben crime thriller series with a supernatural element. It stars Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy, and is told in six episodes. Read our full Lazarus series review here!

Harlan Coben’s LAZARUS is a new Prime Video series with a crime thriller plot that includes supernatural elements. This is not usually something we see from Harlan Coben, and while I am okay with this element, the characters aren’t great.

Well, some of the characters are good, but I found myself getting really tired of the main protagonist very fast. I do believe that’s the intention, but only to a point. And, to me, it went way beyond any acceptable “point”.

The series has just six episodes, and all were watched for this review.

Continue reading our Harlan Coben’s Lazarus series review below. Find all episodes on Prime Video from October 22, 2025.

A son and his father

In essence, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is the story of Joel “Laz” Lazarus (Sam Claflin), who tries to understand his father (and a past tragedy) better. Laz returns home when his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus (Bill Nighy), has died.

His death is ruled a suicide, but only a strange and short note has been left behind. This leads to Laz looking into his father’s most recent case. Before long, he starts having paranormal experiences when he’s in his father’s office.

Obviously, he can’t explain those experiences. And he especially can’t explain how he suddenly knows things that can solve crimes and cold cases.

Could this newfound skill of communicating with his father and his past patients help him solve the mystery of his father’s death? And possibly even the tragic murder of his twin sister that happened 25 years ago?!

Would you please stop yelling?!

I usually like seeing Sam Claflin in most things. From The Hunger Games franchise to Enola Holmes, Every Breath You Take, and, particularly, The Nightingale.

However, as Joel “Laz” Lazarus, he drove me crazy.

There is a lot of yelling in this series. Only surpassed, really, by Jason Clarke in The Last Frontier. When Laz isn’t yelling at someone and claiming that yet another person is “the one who killed his father”, then he is whining.

Those emotional outbursts can be extremely powerful, but not when they happen multiple times. Per episode, I might add.

Fortunately, we have Bill Nighy (The First Omen) as the counterbalance. He is calm as a cucumber in both flashbacks and as a ghost.

Also delivering some balance are Alexandra Roach (Bodies) as Laz’s sister, Jenna, and David Fynn (The Mauritanian) as Seth, a police officer and childhood friend of Laz. These two are truly wonderful characters in Lazarus.

Watch the Lazarus series on Prime Video

The Lazarus miniseries is based on an original story idea and written by the New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben and BAFTA-winner Danny Brocklehurst (Fool Me Once). A damn solid starting point for any production.

Directors of the six episodes in the series are Wayne Che Yip (season 1 of Hunters), Nicole Volavka (The Pact),  and Daniel O’Hara (The Stranger).

For the most part, we’ve enjoyed series based on Harlan Coben stories. Whether Polish, British, French, or Spanish productions, they just work! Including the one with teenage main characters, which was also a Prime Video production.

Well, with a few exceptions, I must admit. For me, Lazarus is ultimately one of those exceptions, and I did not see that coming. Reading about it and watching the trailer, I loved the darker and more horror-adjacent vibe.

Unfortunately, the story just wasn’t impressive, and a few characters were just too annoying. Still, if you’ve enjoyed most Harlan Coben productions so far, you should obviously check it out for yourself. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more!

All 6 episodes of Lazarus are on Prime Video from October 22, 2025.

Details

Director: Wayne Che Yip, Nicole Volavka, Daniel O’Hara
Writers: Harlan Coben & Danny Brocklehurst
Cast: Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Alexandra Roach, David Fynn, Karla Crome, Kate Ashfield

Plot

Based on an original story idea and written by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst. Lazarus follows a man who returns home after his father’s suicide and begins to have disturbing experiences that can’t be explained. He quickly becomes entangled in a series of cold-case murders as he grapples with the mystery of his father’s death and his sister’s murder 25 years ago.

DOLLY is a new extreme horror movie made in the vein of 1970s slashers but set in our present-day world. World Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, where it should definitely reach its ideal audience. Read our full Dolly (2025) horror movie review here!

DOLLY is a horror movie getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. It’s the kind of slasher where you should stay seated until the very end to make sure you watch all of it.

Despite playing out in the present, it’s made exactly like a 1970s horror movie. Even the masked villain has a lot in common with those iconic horror villains. The runtime is just 1 hour and 22 minutes, so it’s an extreme but short watch.

Continue reading our 2025 Dolly horror movie review below.

Perfect for fans of old school slashers

Dolly quickly turns into a survival story for Macy (Fabienne Therese). She’s a young woman who was just supposed to go camping in the woods for a weekend with her boyfriend, Chase (Seann William Scott).

However, they don’t make it very far into their trip before they come across their first warning: Dolls. Lots and lots of dolls. On the ground, hanging from trees, nailed to trees.

Seeing lots of dolls on some strange display in the middle of a forest is never a good sign.

Very soon, Macy is abducted by a strange monster-like figure. Someone big and strong, wearing a doll’s head mask. Also, this person kills violently and seems very difficult to fight back against.

Finally, Macy quickly learns that “Dolly” (Max the Impaler – yes, you read that right) wants to raise Macy as their own child. Oh yes, get ready for everything that entails.

An iconic new Horror Villain

With Dolly, we’re getting a brand new 1970s-style slasher villain, but with a present-day movie and characters who feel confident that what’s going on cannot be real.

We’re talking about a villain comparable to Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and even Leatherface. Not only due to the fact that Dolly wears a mask, but also in terms of dysfunctional family patterns, and a tenacious ability to stay alive.

No matter how much blood they lose.

Also, you can run while they walk, and you still cannot get away. Again, Dolly comes across like a wonderful homage to the extreme slashers of the 1970s, and fans of those movies should have a blast with this one.

Dolly World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

The 2025 Dolly slasher comes from director Rod Blackhurst, who previously gave us the zombie horror drama Here Alone (2016), which I really enjoyed. The screenplay is written by Rod Blackhurst & Brandon Weavil (his feature debut).

For this latest, and very different, horror movie, it’s much more about the visual horror and extreme discomfort. Here Alone was more of a horror drama with thriller and sci-fi elements.

Admittedly, I preferred his 2016 movie, but that should take nothing away from this 2025 release. Dolly is an extreme experience that dives headfirst into the vibe of 1970s slasher with lots of deliciously wild practical effects.

Dolly (2025) had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Details

Director: Rod Blackhurst
Writers: Rod Blackhurst, Brandon Weavil
Cast: Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott, Ethan Suplee, Max the Impaler

Plot

A young woman, Macy, fights for survival after being abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise Macy as their child.

DIRTY BOY is a new thriller with a cult mystery plot that also features elements of science fiction. It has a slow-burn vibe for a long time, as the mystery unravels, but also manages to end on a very high note. Read our full Dirty Boy movie review here!

DIRTY BOY is a cult mystery thriller that has plot elements of both horror and thriller as well. In other words, a genre-mix that hits all the right spots. I wasn’t too crazy about the slow-burning mystery, which was slower than necessary.

However, I still feel that the strong ending and final cult-related reveals more than made up for this. Simply put: I absolutely recommend that you watch this mindf**k of a thriller and try to have more patience than I did initially.

Continue reading our Dirty Boy movie review below. Find it in UK cinemas from September 10, 2025, and in select US theaters from September 19, 2025.

Trad cult goes sci-fi

With Dirty Boy, our title character is a young man raised in a very oppressive cult. The scenery is like something straight out of The Sound of Music but the behavior and outfits are from decades earlier than the iconic musical movie.

Think more along the lines of the Amish. Except they do have some gadgets that are straight out of a sci-fi movie. Everything from the Internet to Social Media clearly exists, but not for the people living in this lush mountain village home.

Regardless of the gorgeous surroundings, the people living in this cult are subjected to a life that can only be described as very traditional. We’re not “just” talking the whole “Tradwife” trend of current social media.

It’s way more cult-related than that.

What makes a young man dirty?

Getting back to the title character, this young man, Isaac (Stan Steinbichler), is not only trapped in a cult, but he also has to deal with schizophrenia. As a schizophrenic, he is in a battle with himself.

You can almost compare him to James McAvoy in Shyamalan‘s Split and Glass.

And yes, I do realize that the Shyamalan character did not have schizophrenia, so I’m talking more in terms of how he changes when his illness takes over. One part of Isaac is a pure and innocent young man; the other makes him the title character.

A female Pastor leads the Cult

To be fair, Isaac is just a young person trapped in someone else’s idea of what he should be and how he ought to behave. And if you think it’s tough being a young man in this religion, you would not want to be a young woman.

For the female members of this cult, it’s all about growing the cult, so they need to get pregnant. However, when the young men are to be good and pure, you can probably guess who will be the “baby daddy” of this cult.

Oh yes, the Patriarch, Walter (Graham McTavish), of the cult household. And this is despite the fact that the Matriarch, Verity (Susie Porter), is the Pastor of the cult.

Also, there is the element of people (usually young women) being murdered by the cult. Why? Well, you’ll have to watch Dirty Boy to find out, but you can be sure it’s all part of the cult teachings and rituals.

Watch Dirty Boy in UK and US theaters

Dirty Boy is the feature-length directorial debut of writer and producer Doug Rao. It’s a very impressive way for Doug Rao to start his career as a genre director. One that will undoubtedly leave an impact on all who watch it.

The cult horror thriller is hitting theaters now after a very successful film festival run. From the 2024 Cannes Film Market to the Girona Film Festival in Spain, and the Raindance Film Festival in the UK, where it was nominated for four awards.

Finally, I have to say that I immediately looked up where Dirty Boy was filmed. Despite the sinister and scary story told, this location was so gorgeous that I had to know where it was. Dirty Boy was filmed around Lake Grundlsee in Styria, Austria.

And yes, this is a place I’m hoping to see in real life. Though even more so, I desperately hope I won’t meet any cult-affiliated people there.

Dirty Boy will be coming to UK cinemas from September 10, followed by Digital platforms on October 15. In the US, it will have a limited theater release on September 19, 2025.

Details

Director: Doug Rao
Writer: Doug Rao
Cast: Stan Steinbichler, Susie Porter, Graham McTavish, Honor Gillies, Olivia Chenery

Plot

Raised in an oppressive cult, a reclusive schizophrenic discovers that he’s being framed by cult leaders for a series of ritualistic murders and must prove his innocence by saving their next victim and destroying the evil sect.

THE TWIN on Shudder is a new psychological horror movie about grief, and with a folklore plot working in the background. It’s a very sad and scary movie that could have been a bit shorter, but it still works overall. Read our full The Twin horror movie review here!

THE TWIN is a new horror movie on Shudder. While this may sound like just a classic paranormal horror movie, it has the added layer of being a story about grief. We’ve come across quite a few of those recently, and (due to personal circumstances) they hit hard.

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Our review of the 2022 Shudder horror movie The Twin >

This horror movie is equal parts psychological horror and supernatural folklore horror, which means it should be entertaining for most. It is quite sad due to the traumatic loss that sets everything off in the plot, but ultimately, it’s more like a sinister horror movie.

Continue reading our The Twin (2025) horror movie review below. Find it on Shudder from August 29, 2025.

From one loss to the next

When The Twin opens, it’s with a man living his best life. He’s working from home as an artist (painting) while taking care of his son, and his wife works outside the home and has a good career.

One day, a tragic accident happens, and their son, Jacob (Tripp Toupal), dies in an instant. It’s a pain that tears apart the married couple, so it’s one loss on top of the next. Though, to be fair, the man, Nicholas (Logan Donovan), is the first to give up.

His wife, Charlie (Aleksa Palladino), wants him to first and foremost get better and take care of himself. If he can find his way back, she’s not against giving them a chance again, but for the time being, she needs distance.

To help make sure Nicolas is safe, psychiatrist Dr. Beaumont (Robert Longstreet) visits him every day to talk about the future and whatever makes him happy or sad on any given day.

When grief takes hold

For Nicholas, there seems to be only darkness for a while. He blames himself for the death of their little boy, and this is only made worse by terrifying visions of a shadowy figure. A figure that looks eerily like himself.

And also, a figure that blames him for the death of little Jacob. It’s pure torture, and it’s happening in a house where Nicholas also experienced darkness as a child. Something he is reminded of by both a neighbor and a book that suddenly appears.

It has a story about the “Fetch” (a sinister copy of oneself), which appears to be taking hold of Nicholas. If he is to have any chance of fighting back, he must confront his past (both from when he was a child and more recently losing his child).

If he doesn’t, this supernatural force could consume him completely. Much like grief has been consuming him already.

Watch The Twin (2025) on Shudder

The Twin comes from director J.C. Doler, who appears to be getting his feature film debut here. He previously worked on several short films and even an episode of Bloody Bites. Plus, he has edited a lot of movies in the past – including Cabin Girl (2023).

J.C. Doler also co-wrote The Twin with Paul Petersen (writer and star of A Chance Encounter), and despite feeling it could’ve been a little shorter, I liked the overall plot and storytelling of this horror movie.

Previously, The Twin was titled “The Fetch”, like the evil entity trying to take over someone grieving. Instead, the concept of The Fetch is now a part of the plot, while the title became the more generic “The Twin”. A shame, but I can imagine it was a decision that was battled over.

The Twin is streaming on Shudder from August 29, 2025.

Details

Director: J.C. Doler
Writers: Paul Petersen, J.C. Doler
Stars: Logan Donovan, Aleksa Palladino, Robert Longstreet, Shannon Cochran, Tripp Toupal

Plot

After the tragic loss of his son, Nicholas (Logan Donovan) struggles with his grief and a strained relationship with his wife Charlie (Aleksa Palladino). Under the watch of psychiatrist Dr. Beaumont (Robert Longstreet), Nicholas begins experiencing terrifying visions of a shadowy figure that looks like himself. As reality unravels, Nicholas must confront his past and the supernatural force haunting him before it consumes him completely.

ABOVE THE KNEE is a new Norwegian Horror Movie from the director of the 2022 GOOD BOY. This one has a very specific body horror storyline that’s hard to watch at times. Read our full Above the Knee movie review here!

ABOVE THE KNEE is a horror movie by the director of the 2022 Good Boy movie. Not to be confused with the new, much-talked-about 2025 Good Boy movie starring an actual dog.

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The Good Boy movie from the director of Above the Knee here >

This new horror movie has the same vibe as the previous movie by the director, but I preferred that one. And still, I could not look away from this new horror movie about BID – short for Body Integrity Dysphoria. It goes all-in!

Continue reading our Above the Knee movie review below. The film will be screening at FrightFest UK.

Update: The movie will be out on Screambox on September 9, 2025.

Living with a rare and taboo disorder

With Above the Knee, we’re getting a story about someone suffering from a very real, but rare, mental disorder called Body Integrity Dysphoria or BID. With this disorder, a person feels like an otherwise functioning part of them shouldn’t exist.

In this particular story, one young woman has always felt she should have been born blind. Another, our main character, feels like his left leg should only exist above the knee.

That’s why he wants to cut his leg off above the knee (hence the title), in order to feel complete. Yes, his version of being complete would make him incomplete. But how can you attain this without being hospitalized?

Well, that’s what Amir (co-writer of the story, Freddy Singh) is trying to figure out.

Amputation to cure depression?

Amir seems to have a lot going for him, but he also seems very fragile. Or rather, he seems quite depressed, and everyone around him is walking on eggshells to avoid making him upset.

And yes, you will hear what happened earlier to result in this behavior from his friends and loved ones.

However, until we get this story, we see Amir looking for a job while his lovely girlfriend (Julie Abrahamsen) tries to help their day-to-day life feel normal.

Amir is a seemingly smart and able-bodied man, but something is bothering him; He feels that his left leg shouldn’t be there. Through his eyes, we see what he experiences, which is a leg that seems to be slowly rotting away.

He feels it’s an alien thing that needs to be cut off. Basically, he needs to amputate his left leg if he is to have any hopes of ever being happy. Of course, you can’t say this out loud to anyone. They’ll say you’re crazy!

A very unlikable main character

Admittedly, I did not care for Amir in Above the Knee. This was solely due to his behaviour. I do, however, recognize that the further into his world I got, the more I was able to understand how deeply depressed he was.

To me, Amir just came across as very dark and cold, and I still don’t think we were ever given a chance to understand why his girlfriend Julie was with him.

If Amir has always felt this way, then when was he a happy and loving person? I would’ve loved just a quick flashback showing us this. With a runtime of just 1 hour and 16 minutes, a five-minute scene could’ve done wonders for me.

The most fascinating character, in my experience, was ultimately the character of Rikke. The woman who speaks about her BID in public and whom Amir befriends to better understand himself.

Louise Waage Anda plays Rikke, and that character could easily have her own spin-off movie. When Above the Knee was over, I still wanted to know more about Rikke as Louise Waage Anda portrayed her!

Watch Above the Knee when you get the chance

Above the Knee comes from writer and director Viljar Bøe (Good Boy). The story was conceived with Freddy Singh, who stars as Amir in the actual movie. As already mentioned, I wasn’t crazy about this character.

However, despite my issues with Amir as a character, I can’t ignore the deep impact of the story. Especially the discomfort of Amir, everyone around him, and my own as I watched him become increasingly desperate to get rid of his left leg.

While I definitely preferred Viljar Bøe’s previous movie, I still recommend this one as well. And honestly, I could easily see both get a US or UK remake.

Above the Knee has been playing at film festivals all over the world. From Beyond Fest in the U.S. in September 2024 to Splat!FilmFest in Poland, Fantasy Filmfest in Germany, and PUFA in Spain. Now, it’s getting its UK premiere.

Whenever you get the chance to watch this very realistic body horror story, you should definitely jump at it. If you think you can stomach it, of course. And also, do not miss out on his movie Good Boy – not connected to the 2025 Good Boy.

Above the Knee receives its UK premiere at FrightFest on August 25, 2025. It will be on UK and Ireland digital platforms on September 8, 2025. In the US, it will be out on Screambox on September 9, 2025.

Details

Director: Viljar Bøe
Writers: Viljar Bøe & Freddy Singh
Cast: Freddy Singh, Julie Abrahamsen, Louise Waage Anda, Viggo Solomon

Plot

Amir’s life with his beautiful girlfriend looks perfect but in reality, he is harbouring a dark secret he knows no one will understand – ever since he can remember he has felt his left leg doesn’t belong to him. Plagued with visions of a rotting leg that must be amputated, he becomes determined to rid himself of this alien limb, whatever the cost may be.

FOREIGNER is a new thriller about the struggles of fitting in when you move to a new country. Told with elements of horror, campy comedy, and a sinister undertone. Screening at Fantasia 2025. Read our full Foreigner movie review here!

FOREIGNER is getting its world premiere at Fantasia 2025 and will continue to screen at other genre film festivals. Up very soon is FrightFest in August. This is a thriller, but one that has a campy and sinister tone that might throw you off a little, but it works.

Not least in attempting to show us what it feels like to arrive somewhere new. Especially from a place that most refer to as simply “foreign”. We meet a girl as she begins High School in Canada, which is already a difficult age without the added element of being a foreigner.

Continue reading our Foreigner movie review below.

Arriving in Canada in 2004

With Foreigner, we’re getting a story that plays out in 2004, but I don’t think it would be too different if it had been in the present day. The Iranian immigrant teenage girl, Yasamin (or just Yasi), is the new girl in her Canadian high school.

And also, she’s new to Canada, which means she’s a foreigner. Plain and simple. Also, her classmates know nothing about Iran, so they assume she’s been living under third-world country conditions.

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Our review of It Lives Inside >

In preparation for starting High School, she’s been rewatching her favorite sitcom episodes over and over, and over again. Trying to nail the perfect pronunciation of tricky words.

Unsurprisingly, her high school experience is daunting, as the queen bee of the high school and her two besties attach themselves to Yasi. The trio of pastel-clad girls feeds Yasmin’s need to fit in by showing her what to do and how to act.

Demonic hair dye

For her dad and grandmother, it’s confusing to see their daughter and granddaughter change before their eyes. However, Yasi is desperate for acceptance, which requires that she fit in. In order to achieve this, she dyes her hair blonde.

This act turns out to be a turning point as it attracts a demonic force to Yasmin. One that will drag her further away from her family and her roots.

Rose Dehgan delivers a strong and painful portrayal as Yasi, while Chloë MacLeod shines as the very creepy high school “It girl” Rachel.

Foreigner is premiering at Fantasia 2025

Foreigner was written and directed by Ava Maria Safai, who is a Canadian-Iranian artist from Vancouver. And I believe it does show that this story comes from someone who can relate to the feelings our Yasi has on a personal level.

This is her feature film debut, but she’s already achieved success with her short film Zip, which won numerous awards on the festival circuit. Horror fans will probably also find it very interesting that Ava Maria recently shadowed directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein on Final Destination: Bloodlines. I know I did.

I also enjoyed the retro setting and use of numerous teen horrors as inspiration. Overall, this is a very interesting movie for several reasons. I don’t expect to watch it again, but it’s an important look at the Canadian immigrant experience.

Some have referred to Foreigner as Mean Girls meet The Exorcist, which isn’t wrong, but it’s still taking it a little too far. Still, I acknowledge that Ava Maria Safai is a very interesting filmmaker, and I would love to see more horror (maybe horror comedy) from her hands.

Foreigner is getting its world premiere at Fantasia 2025.

Details

Director: Ava Maria Safai
Writer: Ava Maria Safai
Cast: Rose Dehgan, Chloë MacLeod, Maryam Sadeghi, Ashkan Nejati, Talisa Mae Stewart, Victoria Wardell. 

Plot

Foreigner is set in the age of low-rise jeans and flip phones, where a Persian teen, Yasamin,  (Rose Dehgan) immigrates to a new country with her family. Trying desperately to fit in with her new clique, she dyes her hair blonde — and invites a sinister force into her life.

ICONIC is a new psychological thriller that feels like a real trip. A total mindf**k in ways I never expected. A small cast and a story that will make sense in the end. It is brutal, though. Read our full Iconic movie review here!

ICONIC is a thriller out on VOD now, and I am not sure how to explain it. As it played out, I felt myself being drawn into the wildest mindf**k. And yes, I do mean that in the best way possible.

In fact, I’m not sure how to describe this movie. The plot is very small, and ultimately, you won’t understand everything until the very end. Fortunately, getting there is a real trip. I would recommend being 100% sober for this one to be able to follow everything.

Continue reading our Iconic movie review below. Find it on Digital and VOD from July 15, 2025.

An L.A. psychological thriller

In Iconic, we follow an influencer, Rose (Emma Jade), who is going through a bit of backlash. Rose is an offbeat beauty industry “celebrity” (aka “Influencer”), but her makeup recently disfigured another influencer.

Rather than going into an apology rant, she opts for blaming the influencer (a rival, really) for not checking whether she was allergic before applying the stuff to her face. Not the best way to deal with a scandal, but Rose has other issues to deal with.

Especially a stalker, who seems to always be nearby and getting closer. Obviously, it’s a disturbed person, and Rose wants nothing to do with them.

However, her luck seems to turn when she meets Lily (Alyssa Anthony). It’s love at first sight, and the two cannot get enough of one another. Unfortunately, Lily also introduces Rose to various drugs.

A drug-induced rollercoaster

Before long, Rose is on a rollercoaster of amazing highs and increasingly brutal lows. And Rose already deals with having bipolar disorder, so she really shouldn’t be taking anything with her medication.

As the audience, we’re on the sidelines, witnessing Rose fall down a rollercoaster rabbit hole full of drugs, obsession, paranoia, and jealousy. Rock bottom seems to be the final destination for her, and Rose is heading there fast.

I had no idea what to expect of ICONIC, but it delivered something better and more innovative than I ever expected. Emma Jade is perfectly cast as Rose, while Alyssa Anthony offers the perfect catalyst as Lily.

I don’t know that I am familiar with any of the actors in this movie, but I’d like to see them in future genre productions. I’d also love to see a horror movie from this filmmaker, as he clearly has a talent for telling darker stories.

Watch Iconic on VOD and Digital

ICONIC is written and directed by Matthew Freiheit, who also serves as the editor and the cinematographer on the movie. It was shot on location in Los Angeles, and while both he cast and crew are obviously talented, this feels like a one-person army in many ways.

With a runtime of just 90 minutes, it even hits what I often feel is the sweet spot for many genre movies. Especially for a feature film debut, which Iconic is.

Iconic shows the darker sides of Los Angeles while also focusing on the happiness you can find there. However, we are in the world of influencers, and as with all other celebrity-based jobs, the work is brutal, and you can be down and out in no time.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

The filmmakers have pledged 10% of the profits from the film to charities helping combat mental health and homelessness issues in Los Angeles. After watching (Iconic), it should be obvious why.

Ultimately, Iconic is a psychological horror thriller that should not disappoint if you just give in to it. Allow it to just wash over you as you experience everything Rose goes through. From the incredible highs to the violent lows.

Iconic is out on Digital and On-Demand from July 15, 2025.

Details

Director: Matthew Freiheit
Writer: Matthew Freiheit 
Cast: Emma Jade, Alyssa Anthony, Noor Dabash, Roxette Arisa, Dylan Bonansinga, Cherish Waters, Blake Eiermann, Davi Stefond, Frankie Tanimal, Tom DeSanto, Chris Boudreaux

Plot

An offbeat beauty industry “celebrity” struggles to maintain her lifestyle and sanity after an internet scandal, new love interest and obsessive and violent new fan base turn her life upside down.

THE WOMAN IN THE YARD is a new psychological horror movie from Jaume Collet-Serra featuring yet another stellar performance by Danielle Deadwyler. This movie is about grief and depression, and deserves so much recognition. Read our full The Woman in the Yard movie review here!

THE WOMAN IN THE YARD is a psychological horror movie that might seem very simple on the surface. However, in order to truly enjoy and understand it, you have to look beyond what’s shown and understand what’s being told.

It comes from horror director Jaume Collet-Serra, but has a story that focuses on the manifestation of unbearable grief that has led to depression. Keep this in mind as you watch the movie, and it should all make sense. The runtime of just 88 minutes works perfectly.

Continue reading our The Woman in the Yard movie review below. Find it on Digital now and on Peacock from June 27, 2025.

The struggles of Ramona and her family

When The Woman in the Yard opens, we meet Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler). She’s a woman completely crippled by grief and also seriously injured after a car accident that took the life of her husband (Russell Hornsby).

Despite her struggles, Ramona must keep going for her two kids. Unfortunately, she clearly hasn’t managed to do so, so her 14-year-old son (Peyton Jackson) has been more of a parent for the 6-year-old daughter (Estella Kahiha).

Quick side note: These two young actors are amazing, which brings it all together as well.

The fact that they’re living in a rural farmhouse far from everyone else doesn’t help.

And then one day, the woman with a black veil shows up in their yard. Ramona picks herself up and confronts the woman (Okwui Okpokwasili). She believes the woman must be lost or sick. Instead, she asks weird questions and makes strange statements.

As the woman in the yard creeps ever closer to the house, it becomes clear that something sinister is afoot. Can Ramona fight back to protect herself and her children from this woman?

Witness grief and depression manifested

The title character of The Woman in the Yard is a strange phenomenon that just shows up one day. A woman shrouded entirely in black, who suddenly appears outside the family’s house with the ominous warning of “Today’s the day.”

What does it all mean? Well, before the movie is over, you will have all the answers you need. If you do not, then you weren’t paying attention.

Or maybe you’re fortunate enough not to be able to relate to, connect with, or simply understand the tragedy this family is living with.

Yet!

Lucky for you.

Without getting too dark, all of us will eventually experience the darker sides of life and loss. For those of us who have already been living with intense grief, the story speaks volumes.

It did for me.

Watch The Woman in the Yard on Digital now and Peacock soon

The Woman in the Yard is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who previously directed such diverse horror movies as The Shallows (2016) and Orphan (2009). The latter had a sequel come out in 2022. Most recently, he also directed Carry-On (2024).

Jason Blum (The Invisible Man, The Black Phone) is a producer on this movie, which I love. I mean, seeing something deeper and darker, touching on elements that many people will encounter in life (grief and depression).

ANOTHER HORROR SEQUEL COMING

Check out the trailer for The Black Phone sequel here >

Also, producing is Emmy-nominated producer Stephanie Allain p.g.a. (The Exorcist: Believer, Hustle & Flow). Star Danielle Deadwiler is an executive producer alongside director Jaume Collet-Serra, James Moran, and Gabrielle Ebron.

Jaume Collet-Serra also directed Danielle Deadwyler in Carry On, and I must admit, I hope to see the two work together on more horror movies in the future. She has exactly the depth and intensity that can make these genre movies come together in the darkest way!

The same goes for the screenwriter of The Woman in the Yard. He should also continue working with the director and actor. This is the feature film debut of screenwriter Sam Stefanak, and what a debut. Please, do it again, Sam, and keep up this storytelling quality!

The Woman in the Yard will be on Peacock from June 27, 2025.

Details

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Script: Sam Stefanak
Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Russell Hornsby, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha

📺 Watch trailer

Plot

Already grieving the death of her husband, Ramona faces a new fear when a mysterious figure appears outside her farmhouse. With the woman continually creeping closer, Ramona must protect her children from the chilling grasp of this haunting entity whose unknown intentions are anything but peaceful.