The Fear Review

my screamed during Hokum and still walked out hopeful. Closing out our Damian McCarthy spotlight after revisiting Caveat and Oddity, we talk about why Hokum might be his simplest and most emotional movie yet.

We break down Caveat (2020), the unsettling slow-burn horror from Damian McCarthy, and why that rabbit might be one of the creepiest objects in modern horror.

Samara Weaving’s breakout horror role in The Babysitter (2017) turns a young boys night into a bloody survival night that feels like Home Alone written by Stephen King.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy turns into something far darker than expected — a possession-driven family horror story with some intense body horror moments. We break down what works, what surprised us, and whether it’s worth seeing opening weekend.

A boy disappears into the woods… and something else comes back. In this episode, we discuss The Hole in the Ground (2019), Lee Cronin’s eerie debut feature and a chilling take on Irish changeling folklore. As part of our lead-up to Cronin’s upcoming The Mummy, we’re revisiting the quiet dread, maternal paranoia, and ambiguous horror that define his first film. Is the child who returned really her son? Or did something replace him in the forest? We explore the film’s folklore roots, its unsettling atmosphere, the mirror test reveal, and what the ending might actually mean. 🎬 Part of Lee Cronin Week Listen to our full Lee Cronin Week series featuring Evil Dead Rise and our upcoming discussion of The Mummy.

The Faces of Death (2026) remake isn’t the shock-documentary revival many horror fans are expecting. Instead, it plays more like a modern investigative horror with a tone closer to Saw than the infamous original film. That shift makes for a smarter update than we anticipated… but it also raises a bigger question: if it doesn’t feel like Faces of Death, should it still be called Faces of Death? William appreciated the attempt to modernize the concept and bring structure to the legacy title. Amy found the investigative pacing slower than expected and wanted more intensity from a movie carrying such a notorious name. Together we break down what works, what doesn’t, and whether the new direction honors the spirit of the original or moves too far away from it. If you went in expecting something extreme, this version may surprise you. Around here, The Fear is Family.

The Mortuary Assistant leans hard into embalming realism, oppressive atmosphere, and possession horror that stuck with Amy longer than expected. We went in without knowing the game, so this review focuses entirely on how the movie works on its own—and whether the procedural realism makes parts of it harder to watch than most Shudder releases. Some moments genuinely impressed us. Others left us with questions. And one scene in particular made Amy say she wasn’t going back out into the dark after the credits rolled. Did the embalming scenes make this one more effective for you… or just harder to sit through? The Mortuary Assistant begins streaming on Shudder March 27, 2026. Thanks to Shudder for providing us with a screener for this review. We also share where it lands on our Buyer-to-Don’t-Bother rating scale. Listen to The Fear Review everywhere:Spotify: https://spotify.thefearreview.comApple Podcasts: https://apple.thefearreview.comAmazon Music: https://amazon.thefearreview.com Around here, The Fear is Family.

With Ready or Not 2: Here I Come arriving soon, we decided to revisit Ready or Not (2019) to see if it still holds up. Short answer: it absolutely does. In this episode of The Fear Review, we talk about what makes Ready or Not such a fun horror movie, why Samara Weaving’s performance works so well, and how the film balances horror, humor, and chaos from beginning to end. We also break down the film’s twisted family mythology, the running gag that still makes us laugh, and why the ending remains one of the most satisfying finales in modern horror. Then we talk about what we’re hoping to see from Ready or Not 2 and whether the franchise could expand even further. Around here… The Fear is Family. What We Cover • Why Samara Weaving carries the movie• The balance of horror and humor• The family dynamic and story setup• The running gag with the servants• The explosive ending (spoilers)• What we want from Ready or Not 2 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/iZZOc-Pdv8U Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Platform Spotify: https://spotify.thefearreview.com Apple Podcasts: https://apple.thefearreview.com Amazon Music: https://amazon.thefearreview.com Follow The Fear Review Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_fear_review Facebook: https://facebook.com/thefearreview TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thefearreview

Some horror movies are creepy. Bodycam (2026) actually messed Amy up a little. After the movie ended, Amy admitted she was literally following William around the house because she needed sunshine. That’s always a good sign for a horror movie. In this episode of The Fear Review, we talk about the new Shudder release Bodycam, a found-footage style horror movie told through police bodycam footage. The movie follows two officers responding to a domestic disturbance that quickly spirals into something much darker. The movie does a lot right. The bodycam perspective works surprisingly well, the acting feels believable, and the tension builds through darkness and atmosphere instead of cheap jump scares. But when the big reveal finally arrives… things get a little more complicated. So where did we land? William gave Bodycam a Full Price rating. Amy landed on Streamer, though it definitely creeped her out enough that she needed something lighter afterwards. Around here, The Fear is Family. Listen & Watch Watch the full episode:https://episodes.thefearreview.com Listen to the audio podcast: Spotifyhttps://spotify.thefearreview.com Apple Podcastshttps://apple.thefearreview.com Amazon Musichttps://amazon.thefearreview.com

Lou Ferrigno stars as a mysterious recluse living deep in the woods in The Hermit (2026), an indie backwoods slasher that blends classic horror setups with a strange psychological twist. But did it actually work? In this episode of The Fear Review, William and Amy break down the latest indie horror release and quickly realize they had very different reactions. From awkward acting choices to some truly bizarre moments (including a bathroom situation that raised more than a few questions), this one sparked a lot of debate. One of us says Streamer.The other says Don’t Bother. Find out which is which as we dive into the story, performances, and the twist ending that neither of us saw coming. Around here, The Fear is Family.

Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott and Kevin Williamson is directing Scream 7 — so before the new film hits theaters, we went back to where it all started. Scream (1996) wasn’t just another slasher. It felt like a cultural reset. We remember the Blockbuster era. We remember the rules. We remember everyone debating who the killer was. But nearly 30 years later, does it still hit the same way? In this episode, we discuss: • Why Scream felt like an event in 1996• How it made horror fans feel seen• The cultural moment surrounding its release• The twist structure that reshaped modern slashers• Why the opening still shocks decades later• And whether it deserves respect… or something more Plus, Amy shares the story of why her mom watched the entire movie under a blanket — which might say more about Scream’s impact than any box office number. Then we reveal our final ratings using The Fear Review scale: BuyerFull PriceMatineeRenterStreamerDon’t Bother Around here, The Fear is Family. If you enjoy the episode, follow the show and leave a review — it helps us keep covering the horror movies you love.

Jason isn’t the killer in Friday the 13th (1980). No hockey mask.No machete.No version of the movie most people think they remember. In this episode, we revisit the original film that launched one of horror’s most iconic franchises and break down why it feels more like a mystery thriller than the slasher legend it became. We discuss: • Why this isn’t actually a “Jason movie”• How the score creates tension differently than Halloween• Tom Savini’s practical effects• The infamous “hairy hands” moment• And whether the original still holds up today We start spoiler-free, then clearly warn before diving into the ending and legacy. 🎟️ Our Ratings:Buyer / Full Price / Matinee / Renter / Streamer / Don’t Bother Around here, The Fear is Family.

Is New Fears Eve actually the bloodiest movie we’ve ever covered? William and Amy dive into this indie holiday slasher from Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting, now streaming on SCREAMBOX. What starts as an over-the-top gore fest quickly turns into a debate about where the line is between extreme and excessive. Amy had moments where she was genuinely clutching her pearls. William admired the commitment to practical effects. Somewhere between glowing red eyes, crude humor, and some wildly creative kills, this one walks a very specific tightrope. We break down: • Whether the gore enhances or overwhelms• The Plague Doctor-style killer design• The horror-comedy tone and who it actually works for• And who this movie is really made for ⚠️ Spoiler warning: We clearly announce when spoilers begin during the episode. If you enjoy indie slashers, practical effects, and horror that doesn’t hold back, this one might be for you. If your tolerance for gore has limits… consider this your warning. Around here, The Fear is Family.