From Haunted Houses to Last Rites: The Legacy of The Conjuring Universe

The latest installment of The Conjuring movies is now in theaters. Photo: The Conjuring Movie

The Conjuring Movies: Why Fans Keep Coming Back for More

Few horror franchises have left as big a mark on modern cinema as The Conjuring series. Blending supernatural chills with the real-life paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, these films go beyond simple jump scares. One big difference is the human element, the Warrens’ deep bond as a couple. Their love, faith, and unshakable resilience ground the terrifying stories, making audiences feel invested not only in the hauntings, but also in the people fighting against them.

The gothic atmosphere, expertly timed scares, and “based on true events” tag keep moviegoers coming back for more, proving that fear feels a little more real when it’s rooted in history.


The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) – A Spine-Chilling Farewell

Released this week, The Conjuring: Last Rites closes out the first phase of The Conjuring Universe with an emotional and terrifying send-off. As the sequel to The Devil Made Me Do It, it doesn’t just aim for scares, it aims for closure.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, reminding us why they’ve become horror icons. Their chemistry elevates every scene, balancing tenderness with the heavy burden of confronting evil. This time, we also see the Warrens’ daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) and her boyfriend Tony (Ben Hardy) step into the story, which adds fresh family stakes.

At 2 hours and 15 minutes, the movie packs in plenty of eerie set pieces, bone-chilling encounters, and a sense of finality that longtime fans will appreciate. It’s less about reinvention and more about honoring the legacy of what came before, a fitting, if bittersweet, conclusion.

Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Runtime: 2 hr 15 min


A Look Back at The Conjuring Universe

Over the past decade, the franchise has delivered both hits and spin-offs, expanding into one of the most successful horror universes of all time:

  • The Conjuring
  • Annabelle
  • The Conjuring 2
  • Annabelle: Creation
  • The Nun
  • Annabelle Comes Home
  • The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
  • The Nun II
  • The Conjuring: Last Rites

With Last Rites, the Warrens’ chapter may be closing, but the fear they’ve stirred on screen will linger for years. Are you a fan of these movies? Which one is your favorite?


Let’s Do the Time Warp Again: Celebrating 50 Years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Step behind the curtain of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with photographer Mick Rock. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Celebrating 50 Years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. At first a box-office flop in 1975, it went on to gross nearly $225 million and earn the distinction of being the longest-running theatrical release in history, fueled by decades of raucous midnight screenings.

But Rocky Horror is more than a movie. It became a movement — a communal ritual of fishnets, call-backs, and liberation that continues to ripple through fashion, nightlife, and music culture. From Vivienne Westwood’s SEX boutique to RuPaul’s Drag Race, its unapologetic celebration of queerness and nonconformity endures. (Magnum PR, 2025)


Mick Rock’s Lost Archives

Legendary photographer Mick Rock (1948–2021), often called “the man who shot the seventies,” had exclusive access to the set during the film’s original production. This fall, his long-lost archives are being unveiled in a stunning new book:

Rocky Horror: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Cult Classic
📅 Release Date: September 30
📖 Available now for pre-order

This electrifying collection brings together rarely seen photographs and intimate behind-the-scenes moments, offering fans the ultimate visual time capsule of the film that redefined camp, glam, and queerness on screen. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)


Inside the Book

The book captures the raw magic of Rocky Horror through candid moments with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Richard O’Brien, alongside intimate shots of the cast between takes. Every page immerses readers in the bold, bizarre, and beautiful world that transformed a low-budget musical into a global cultural phenomenon.

Highlights include:

  • A foreword by creator Richard O’Brien
  • Hundreds of rare photographs and contact sheets
  • Behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the original set
  • VIP interviews with cast, crew, and celebrity fans including Joan Jett, Billy Corgan, Courtney Love, Juliette Lewis, Jinkx Monsoon, Trixie Mattel, Peaches, Norman Reedus, Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), and many more

Exhibitions & Celebrations

To mark the release, special exhibitions in New York and Los Angeles will showcase rare prints and unseen contact sheets from Mick Rock’s archives. The Los Angeles event will coincide with Rock’s birthday, featuring appearances from collaborators and cultural icons who continue to carry Rocky’s torch.


A Visual Love Letter to Rocky Horror

Whether you’re a longtime devotee or just discovering the Time Warp, Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror is dripping with the glam, grit, and rebellious spirit that made the movie a revolution in platform heels.

✨ Don’t just shiver with antici—pation. Dive into this timeless tribute and celebrate a phenomenon that continues to resonate with audiences, generation after generation.


Mick Rock still taken from SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra Of Rock, Directed by Barnaby Clay. Used with permission.

Photo: (c) Estate of Mick Rock 1974, 2025. Used with permission.

‘The Long Walk’ Finally Hits the Big Screen This September

The Long Walk is set for a September 12 release. Photo: IMDb.

Stephen King’s The Long Walk Marches to the Big Screen

The long wait is finally over – Stephen King’s dystopian horror classic, The Long Walk, is making its way to theaters. The highly anticipated adaptation is co-produced and directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games, I Am Legend) from a screenplay by JT Mollner. The cast includes Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, and Mark Hamill. The film will be released in theaters on September 12, 2025.


From Page to Screen

Originally published in 1979 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk takes readers into an alternate America ruled by a totalitarian regime. Although not the first of King’s novels to be published, it was the first novel he ever wrote—started in 1966–67 during his freshman year at the University of Maine, nearly a decade before Carrie (1974) launched his career. (Wikipedia, 2025)


The Premise

At the heart of the story lies the annual competition known only as The Long Walk. One hundred teenage boys are chosen to compete in a brutal test of endurance:

  • Walk at a minimum pace of four miles per hour.
  • No stopping. No resting. No outside help.
  • Fall below the limit, and you get a warning.
  • Three warnings—and you’re out, permanently.

The “winner” earns The Prize—anything he desires for the rest of his life. But the catch? There’s no finish line. The contest continues until only one walker remains alive. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)


Meet Ray Garraty

The story centers on sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty, a reluctant competitor who enters the Long Walk against his mother’s wishes. As the march drags on, Garraty faces not only the physical strain of endless miles but also the psychological toll of watching ninety-nine others fall one by one.


Why This Adaptation Matters

The Long Walk is considered one of King’s most haunting works—a chilling blend of horror, dystopia, and psychological thriller. Its focus on endurance, survival, and the cost of authoritarian control makes it a story that resonates deeply today. Fans have been waiting decades for a faithful adaptation, and with Francis Lawrence at the helm, expectations are high.

Mark your calendars: September 12, 2025. The Long Walk begins.


Photo: Barnes & Noble

Secrets, Games, and Paranoia: Reviewing Never Have I Ever

Damon Rickard’s Never Have I Ever. Photo: IMDb

Never Have I Ever (2025) – Movie Review

Directed by: Damon Rickard
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Horror
Where to Watch: Free on Tubi, or rent/buy on Amazon Video


Synopsis

Never Have I Ever follows Sam, a struggling screenwriter under pressure to repay an advance. His already stressful day spirals when he loses his wallet and faces a series of unsettling break-ins at home. A chance encounter with Mara, a mysterious woman, complicates things further.

At first, Mara seems sympathetic—offering to buy Sam drinks after he realizes he’s broke. But when the two begin playing the drinking game Never Have I Ever, disturbing truths about their pasts begin to surface. As Sam’s day unravels with increasingly bizarre events, the audience is left to question Mara’s true motives and the fragile nature of their connection. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)


Cast

  • Andrew Lee Potts as Sam
  • Beatrice Fletcher as Mara
  • Amber Doig-Thorne
  • Matt McClure
  • Graham Skipper
  • Johnny Vivash

Review

Damon Rickard delivers a tightly woven psychological thriller that grips from the opening scene. Andrew Lee Potts gives a chillingly raw performance as Sam, capturing the turmoil of a man teetering between desperation and paranoia. Beatrice Fletcher’s Mara is enigmatic and unsettling, while Amber Doig-Thorne adds intensity to the already tense atmosphere.

Rather than relying on cheap scares, Rickard leans into psychological dread. The pacing is deliberate—sometimes slow—but it effectively mirrors Sam’s descent into paranoia. The claustrophobic atmosphere, unnerving dialogue, and blurred line between reality and delusion keep the audience guessing until the final moments.

The ending provides a twist that is both shocking and inevitable, leaving viewers satisfied without feeling betrayed. While the film is dialogue-heavy with minimal action, its strength lies in character-driven tension and its exploration of guilt, obsession, and manipulation.


Final Thoughts

Never Have I Ever is a haunting and rewarding watch for fans of psychological thrillers with a horror edge. Intelligent, suspenseful, and unsettling—it’s a film that lingers long after the credits roll.


‘Flesh of the Unforgiven’ Review: A Dark Descent into Fear and Damnation

Joe Hollow’s ‘Flesh of the Unforgiven.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Flesh of the Unforgiven: Death Is Only the Beginning

Synopsis

In Flesh of the Unforgiven, novelist Jack Russo (Joe Hollow) is suffering from crippling writer’s block. In a last-ditch effort to revive his creativity, he retreats to a secluded cabin in the mountains of Quebec with his estranged wife, Sienna (Debbie Rochon). Under pressure from his agent to deliver a treatment for his next bestseller within 72 hours, Jack is sent a mysterious VHS tape—meant to spark inspiration.

It starts as mere curiosity and quickly devolves into obsession. The disturbing contents of the tape drag Jack into a spiral of paranoia, hallucination, and dread. As he teeters on the edge of madness, Sienna struggles to ground him in reality. But she harbors secrets of her own—ones that blur the lines between the living and the dead. As they’re pulled into the twisted realm of the Death Dealer and his legion of manipulative demons, both Jack and Sienna must confront terrifying truths—about themselves, and about the price of fear.

Written and directed by Joe Hollow, the cast includes Debbie Rochon as Sienna Russo, Joe Hollow as Jack Russo/Death Dealer, August Kyss as Vivienne, and Adriana Uchishiba as Livinia.

It is available for rent/purchase on Amazon Video.


Movie Review: Flesh of the Unforgiven

This independent psychological horror film is a brutal, dreamlike exploration of grief, guilt, and damnation, wrapped in a narrative that feels like a waking nightmare. As psychological unrest spirals into full-blown torment, reality becomes warped, and redemption feels increasingly out of reach.

The film’s atmosphere is suffocatingly dark, enhanced by haunting cinematography and a pulse-pounding score that echoes like a heartbeat from hell. The performances are raw and deeply emotional—especially as the Death Dealer toys with his victims, offering twisted salvation in exchange for them embracing their deepest fears.

While the story sometimes stumbles under the weight of its own symbolism, it never loses momentum. The creature design is grotesque and unforgettable, with each demon representing a unique form of psychological torment. It’s not just a horror movie—it’s a disturbing reflection on punishment, corrupted love, and the monsters that live within us.


⚠️ Content Warning

Flesh of the Unforgiven is not for the faint of heart. The film features graphic nudity, gore, and intense violence throughout, including an explicit opening scene, and as a whole, flirts with softcore horror-porn territory. It’s a bold and boundary-pushing film that won’t appeal to everyone—and it’s definitely not family-friendly.

That said, for fans of indie psychological and supernatural horror, this film offers a darkly imaginative take on fear, deals with the devil, and the unbearable weight of our inner demons. NSFW alert: proceed with caution—but horror lovers may find themselves morbidly transfixed.


“Don’t run from your fears, embrace them.
The words of an ancient evil called…the Death Dealer.
It is said that he exists within a realm that lies between life and death.
Searching for lost souls and using his legion of demons to guide them..
If you’re chosen, he’ll make you a deal.
Granting a new life beyond death.
In return…you must face your fears…and embrace them.
He owns your soul once the deal is made.
But the fate of the soul, depends on your will to survive.”


*Thank you to Joe Williamson for the screener link for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions are my own.


Debbie Rochon as Sienna Russo. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Why We Love Horror—and Why Do Not Enter Should Be on Your Radar

Coming soon: Do Not Enter. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.

The Allure of Horror Movies

Horror movies captivate audiences by tapping into primal fears and creating a safe space to confront the unknown. They offer an adrenaline rush, suspense, and the thrill of survival, all from the comfort of a theater or living room.

Viewers are drawn to the tension, unexpected twists, and the release that comes after a scare. Horror also reflects societal anxieties, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. Whether through supernatural entities, psychological terror, or gore, these films challenge boundaries and stimulate curiosity.

Ultimately, horror allows people to explore fear, mortality, and the dark side of human nature in a controlled environment.


Coming Soon: Do Not Enter

Attention horror movie fans — if you’re looking for your next terrifying thrill, Do Not Enter is one to watch for. (EG PR, 2025)

Based on the 2005 novel Creepers by First Blood (the basis for the Rambo movies) author David Morrell, the film follows a group of urban explorers known as the Creepers. These thrill-seekers livestream their adventures through abandoned locations, and their latest target—the eerie, mob-connected Paragon Hotel in New Jersey—promises more danger than they bargained for.

Blending action-thriller roots with supernatural horror, Do Not Enter explores themes of loss, trauma, and the high cost of fame.


🎬 Do Not Enter – Movie Details

  • Genre: Horror
  • Rating: R (for bloody violence and some language)
  • Runtime: 91 minutes
  • Release Date: Coming Soon
  • Directed by: Marc Klasfeld
  • Screenplay by: Stephen Susco, Spencer Mandel & Dikega Hadnot
  • Based on: Creepers by David Morrell
  • Produced by: Jordan Schur, p.g.a.

Cast:
Jake Manley, Adeline Rudolph, Francesca Reale, Shane Paul McGhie, Kai Caster, Javier Botet, Nicholas Hamilton, Brennan Keel Cook, Catrina Shank, and Laurence O’Fuarain.


Synopsis

The Creepers are thrill-seeking urban explorers chasing the ultimate stunt: livestreaming their night inside the abandoned Paragon Hotel. With a dark history of mob activity, ghost stories, and a rumored hidden fortune of $300 million, the hotel is irresistible.

But the deeper they go, the more terrifying it becomes. Haunted by supernatural forces and hunted by deadly rivals, the Creepers are forced to confront their limits—mentally, physically, and morally.


Lionsgate and Suretone Pictures present a Suretone Pictures production: Do Not Enter.
Stay tuned for the official release date.


Brendan Fehr Stars in ‘Kill Me Again,’ a Twisted Sci-Fi Horror from Keith Jardine

Keith Jardine’s Kill Me Again. Photo: Vertical

Vertical Acquires Keith Jardine’s Time-Loop Thriller “Kill Me Again” — Set for August 2025 Release

Los Angeles, CAVertical has secured distribution rights for writer/director Keith Jardine’s hybrid psychological sci-fi horror film Kill Me Again across North America, UK/Ireland, and Australia/New Zealand. The film will premiere in select theaters and On Demand on August 8, 2025. (Bolte Media, 2025)

Starring Brendan Fehr (Roswell, Final Destination), Raoul Max Trujillo (Dark Winds, Mayans M.C.), and Majandra Delfino (Roswell, Friends with Better Lives), Kill Me Again puts a chilling twist on the time-loop trope.

🔪 About the Film

In Kill Me Again, Charlie (Fehr) — a notorious serial killer infamously dubbed The Midnight Mangler — finds himself trapped in a violent time loop, reliving the same bloody night at a desolate roadside diner. At first, Charlie indulges in his deadly instincts, but as the bodies pile up and his grip on reality slips, he becomes desperate to break free from the endless cycle.

“This movie started for me when I began thinking about our obsession with true crime and how, in that medium, the villains, in a way, become the heroes. It’s a guilty pleasure we share, and I wanted to exploit that on screen. Brendan Fehr is masterful and really pulled off what seemed impossible. I’m so grateful to share this.”
Keith Jardine, Writer/Director

🎥 A Dark, Genre-Bending Ride

“Keith has crafted a fantastic new take on the time loop film. By putting a villainous character at the center, he’s subverted expectations and will take genre audiences on a chaotic and entertaining ride. We look forward to presenting the film to audiences this summer.”
Tony Piantedosi, SVP of Acquisitions, Vertical

Kill Me Again was produced by Jardine alongside Juergen Heinemann (also the film’s cinematographer), Heath Hensley, Mark Steinig, Tara Tovarek, and Darren White. Todd Spradlin served as co-producer. Additional crew includes Kevin Hale (Shadow Force) as editor and Jaden Price as costume designer.

🎬 About Keith Jardine

Best known for his fearless career as a UFC fighter, Keith Jardine has emerged as a bold voice in film and television. After appearances in major productions like Inherent Vice, John Wick, Love Lies Bleeding, and Copshop, Jardine turned his creative energy to storytelling behind the camera.

His directorial debut, the award-winning short El Paso 11:55, earned accolades at four Academy-qualifying festivals. With Kill Me Again, Jardine cements himself as a rising filmmaker, blending psychological horror and sci-fi with a fresh and unsettling edge.

Upcoming projects include The Edge of Normal and Over Your Dead Body, where he stars alongside Jason Segel and Samara Weaving.


🏛️ About Vertical

Founded in 2012, Vertical is a globally recognized independent distributor specializing in film releases across theatrical, digital, and streaming platforms. With a full-service approach to marketing, sales, and distribution, Vertical continues to champion original storytelling and elevate independent cinema.


Stay tuned for the release of Kill Me Again — a time-loop thriller that dares to ask: What happens when the monster can’t stop being a monster?

In theaters and On Demand August 8, 2025.

Into the Wild: A Journey Through Simplicity’s Dystopian Vision

‘Simplicity: A Novel’ by Mattie Luchansky will be released on July 29, 2025. Photo: Penguin Random Books

Simplicity by Mattie Lubchansky: A Graphic Novel Review

From the acclaimed author of the horror sensation Boys Weekend, Mattie Lubchansky returns with Simplicity—a vibrant and biting new graphic novel. Set in a dystopian future, Simplicity follows a timid academic sent beyond the fortified walls of New York City to investigate a mysterious cult in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains. It will be released on July 29 and is available for pre-order. (Penguin Random House, 2025)


📚 Synopsis

In 1977, a group known as the Spiritual Association of Peers takes over an abandoned summer camp in the Catskills, founding a secluded community they call Simplicity.

Fast forward to 2081: scholar Lucius Pasternak, a trans man, lives in the authoritarian New York City Administrative and Security Territory, established after the U.S. dissolves in 2041. When billionaire real estate mogul and current mayor Dennis Van Wervel offers Lucius a job documenting Simplicity for a new museum, Lucius reluctantly agrees.

What begins as an anthropological assignment quickly evolves into something deeper. Lucius is captivated by the community’s strange rituals and by Amity Crown-Shy, a charismatic acolyte born and raised in Simplicity. But soon, terrifying visions—sensual and surreal—begin to haunt Lucius. When members of the cult start to vanish, leaving signs of violence behind, Lucius and Amity are forced to confront an otherworldly presence: a creature the community calls The Lamentation.

Together, they journey into the lawless Exurb Zones, home to prepper enclaves and reclusive elites, to uncover the truth—and face the real threat to Simplicity’s survival.


🖋️ Review

In this bold and satirical graphic novel, Lubchansky explores the themes of power, identity, and ideology. Set in a fragmented and fortified America, Simplicity questions what happens when utopian dreams meet dystopian realities.

Lubchansky’s artwork is electric—balancing cartoonish expressiveness with detailed, immersive environments. The contrast between Lucius’ internal repression and Amity’s easy confidence adds emotional depth, while the narrative dives into authoritarian control, cult psychology, and queer identity with nuance and intelligence.

What begins as a critique of surveillance culture and elitism becomes a layered, often unsettling story about the seduction of simple answers in a complex world. The horror elements—hallucinatory creatures and violent disappearances—are matched by dark humor and emotional insight. The language is clear and expressive: “Are my dreams seeping into the real world? They persist.”

This is a must-read for fans of graphic novels that blend science fiction, horror, and political commentary. Provocative, beautifully drawn, and deeply thought-provoking, Simplicity stands out as one of the year’s most original graphic novels.

⚠️ Note: Contains nudity and sexual content.

“There’s no such thing as leaving the world, is there? We’re in the world. The choice has already been made for us.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*Thank you to Demetris Papadimitropoulos/Pantheon Books for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

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‘The Sound’ Review: Horror Meets High Altitude in This Survival Thriller

The Sound is available on Video On Demand. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Movie Review: The Sound (2025)

Survival, Supernatural Terror, and the Forbidden Wall

Release Date: June 27, 2025
Available in Theaters & On Demand
Distributor: Blue Harbor Entertainment
Rating: R (Language and Some Violence)
Running Time: 104 mins
Genres: Thriller / Horror / Action


Synopsis

Survival horror thriller The Sound opened nationwide in theaters and on Video on Demand on June 27, 2025. Distributed by Blue Harbor Entertainment, the film plunges audiences into an adrenaline-charged nightmare on one of the most dangerous climbs ever attempted. (EG-PR, 2025)

A world-class team of climbers is granted access to the Forbidden Wall, a mysterious rock face sealed off for decades. Among them is Sean (Marc Hills), whose grandfather’s doomed attempt 63 years ago has become legend. But as the climbers ascend, they are confronted by a malevolent force that transforms their expedition into a terrifying battle for survival—hundreds of feet above ground and completely isolated from help.


Cast & Crew

  • Produced, Directed & Written by: Brendan Devane (The Canyonlands)
  • Executive Producer: James Devane (Sadieland Productions)
  • Director of Photography: Ryan Galvan
  • Editing: Alex Russek (Reel Rock)
  • Score by: James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins)

Starring:
Marc Hills (Elephant Department), Rachel Finninger (American Horror Story), Nicholas Baroudi (The Hating Game), Jocelyn Hudon (The Strain), William Fichtner (Crash, Armageddon), Christina Kirkman (Trigger Happy), Jolene Kay (Star Trek), David Clennon (The Thing), Hazel Findlay (Reel Rock), Brette Harrington (The Alpinist), Adrian Ballinger (Edge Of The Earth), Alex Honnold (Free Solo)


Review

The Sound is a chilling and suspenseful horror thriller that combines the physical danger of a mountaineering expedition with the creeping dread of supernatural terror. Set against the dizzying heights of the Forbidden Wall, the film begins as a survival story and spirals into a psychological nightmare.

Marc Hills gives a standout performance as Sean, a climber burdened by his family’s haunted legacy. The eerie backstory involving his grandfather’s failed expedition adds depth and mystery, enhancing the film’s foreboding tone.

While the film excels in atmosphere and breathtaking cinematography, particularly during the sweeping climbing sequences, it stumbles slightly in character development and pacing. Some of the supporting roles fall into familiar tropes, and not all supernatural elements are fully fleshed out. However, the originality of combining climbing with horror, along with a memorable plot twist at the end, helps The Sound stand out.

Fans of vertical thrillers like The Descent or The Ritual will find much to enjoy here. The Sound leaves viewers gripping their seats—and maybe thinking twice about what lurks on forgotten mountainsides.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*Thank you to EG-PR for the screener link for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.


Have you seen The Sound? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Related post: ‘The Sound’ Echoes with Terror: A Climbing Thriller That Goes Beyond the Edge

‘The Fostered’ Review: A Haunting Thriller That Twists Perception

The Fostered is now available on digital and on demand. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The Fostered – A Chilling New Thriller Debuts This Week

Available on Digital and On Demand starting June 24, 2025


🎬 Synopsis

After their parents’ tragic murder-suicide, twin sisters are taken in by a gentle foster mother and her resentful husband. As tensions rise in the dysfunctional household, it becomes unclear whether the real danger comes from the cruel foster father—or from the girls themselves.

“Don’t be afraid of what you see… Be afraid of what you don’t!”


Review

The Fostered is a tense, slow-burning psychological thriller that explores grief, trauma, and the thin line between victim and threat. Following the horrific loss of their parents, twin sisters find themselves in the care of a seemingly kind foster mother, Amy, and her cold, volatile husband, Kevin.

Directors Gunnar Garrett and Ritchie Greer build a suffocating atmosphere, using dim lighting and claustrophobic spaces to mirror the emotional intensity inside the home. Real-life twins Serena and Savina Perey deliver eerie, pitch-perfect performances that keep the audience guessing. Are they survivors—or something more sinister?

The film thrives on emotional ambiguity and psychological tension. It refuses easy answers and leans into moral complexity. Is this a tale of children in danger, or is something darker lurking behind their wide eyes?

With its haunting tone and loaded silences, The Fostered is a psychological puzzle that lingers long after the credits roll.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this film and received a screener link. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.


🎥 Film Details

Written by: Gunnar Garrett
Directed by: Gunnar Garrett & Ritchie Greer
Starring: Robert Palmer Watkins, Brittany Underwood, Serena Perey, Savina Perey
Genre: Thriller
Run Time: 1 hour 16 minutes


Watch The Fostered on YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.


The Fostered still. Courtesy photo, used with permission.