Dir/Wri: Zach Cregger | Cast: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Amy Madigan | US Horror 2025
A teacher finds herself in crisis when all but one of her pupils vanish leaving nothing but questions from her small town community.
As horror films go – and I’m no fan – this latest zombie style caper starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich is more hilarious than scary with its crafty blend of absurdist humour and inventive camerawork, not to mention startling special effects and a pace that zips along with all the kinetic energy of a zombie on fire.
Cleverly concocting and then coalescing the various narrative strands involving the main characters and their storylines Zach Cregger weaves a wacky psychodrama rooted in witchcraft with a jolt of humour that keeps the audience baffled and entertained until the furious finale, satisfying with its convincing performances from a cast who feel real in their respective trauma – particularly Brolin’s bereft father and Garner’s angst-ridden teacher who bears the brunt of the collective community’s rage. Amy Madigan’s ghastly aunt Gladys is a menacing addition to the horror hall of fame. @MeredithTaylor
NOW ON GENERAL RELEASE