Genre(s) – Horror
Director – Joanna Tsani
Writer – Joanna Tsani
Cast – Konstantina Mantelos, Adam Tsekhman, Cristo Fernández, Peter MacNeill, Fuad Ahmed
Runtime – 84 Minutes
My Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½☆☆☆☆
Where To Watch/Stream The Killgrin
The Killgrin is a film that is clearly trying to carve out a niche that mixes psychological drama with body horror, wrapped up in a metaphor about grief and mental health. Ambitious, yes, but does it land?
If you came for jump scares, you might want to turn back. The Killgrin is more therapy session than thrill ride.
Plot Summary of The Killgrin (Spoiler-Free)
The Killgrin follows Miranda, a woman who is wrestling with the aftermath of her boyfriend’s suicide. Struggling with her grief and emotional turmoil, Miranda seeks help from a spiritual healer who tells her that she’s been infected by a supernatural entity called the Killgrin. This creature feeds on sadness and misery, essentially thriving on Miranda’s emotional pain.
At first, Miranda doesn’t believe the healer’s warnings, dismissing the idea as nonsense. But soon, people around her start dying in gruesome and bizarre ways, which pushes her into a reality where the threat is terrifyingly real. The story then unfolds as Miranda tries to understand the nature of the Killgrin and find a way to stop it before it consumes her and those close to her.
The film is less about chasing the monster and more about exploring Miranda’s mental state and emotional breakdown, using the Killgrin as a symbolic representation of her trauma.
The Killgrin Review: Is It Worth Watching?
The Killgrin is a movie that is trying to do something a little different in a genre that’s been leaning heavily into metaphor and mental health themes for years now. Some of that works, some doesn’t. The biggest strength here is Konstantina Mantelos’s performance, which is heartfelt and believable. She’s the anchor in a sea of sometimes clunky dialogue and a pacing that drags like it’s stuck in quicksand.
I don’t think this film is going to satisfy you if you’re looking for a classic horror experience. The scares are few and far between here, and the creature – the Killgrin- is more of a slow-building threat than a jump scare machine. Instead, this is a film that’s about Miranda’s grief and how it manifests as a monstrous presence in her life. It’s introspective, it’s slow, and it definitely expects you to pay attention to the emotional beats more than the monster ones.
Where it loses me is in the pacing and tone. Some scenes felt like lectures on sadness rather than parts of a horror movie, which kills the tension. And the moments where the film tries to inject humor – particularly between Miranda and a character named Brian – sometimes feel like they’re from a different movie entirely.
The effects team deserves some credit though. The body horror elements are pretty good, but by the time the monster shows up properly, any emotional impact kind of fizzleed out, which is disappointing.
It all feels like you are watching a slow dance with a monster that’s mostly a shadow until the very end – and when it finally shows itself, well, you might feel like you missed the party. The movie is not perfect by any means, but it’s also not a total loss.
If you’re a horror fan who loves films like Hereditary or The Babadook that use monsters as metaphors for trauma, you might find The Killgrin interesting enough to stick with. But if you want traditional horror thrills, you’re likely to be left wanting.
What I liked (And What I Didn’t like)
Pros
Konstantina Mantelos’s Performance
Mantelos is the heart and soul of this movie. She nails the emotional breakdown and descent into despair with authenticity. It’s refreshing to see a horror lead who feels human and relatable rather than just screaming or running around.
Thoughtful Themes
The film tries to tackle grief, mental illness, and trauma with sincerity, and even if though it stumbles a bit, I appreciated the effort.
Cons
Pacing Issues
The movie often feels like it’s moving through molasses. Long, talk-heavy scenes sap the tension and make it hard to stay engaged with it all.
Tonal Inconsistency
The attempts at humor clash awkwardly with the serious, heavy themes. This whiplash pulls you out of the experience instead of adding relief.
Predictable Metaphors
The Killgrin as a metaphor for trauma and grief isn’t new territory. The film offers little fresh insight on these well-worn themes.
Who Might Like The Killgrin
If you’re someone who appreciates horror films that focus on mental health, trauma, and emotional breakdowns over blood and guts, this one might be up your alley. Also, fans of slow-burn psychological horror and movies like the above mentioned Hereditary and The Babadook will find familiar themes here.
Who Might Dislike The Killgrin
If you’re a fan of classic horror tropes – fast pacing, constant scares, and a clear monster threat—you’ll probably get frustrated here. The slow pace, heavy dialogue, and introspective tone make it a tough watch if you want your horror with adrenaline. Also, if you hate when horror films get “too deep” or feel like therapy sessions, this isn’t for you.
Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching The Killgrin?
The Killgrin is a mixed bag. It’s got ambition, a standout lead performance, and some impressive body horror moments, but it’s weighed down by pacing issues, tonal confusion, and an ultimately underwhelming monster reveal. The film tries hard to explore grief and trauma through horror, and while it doesn’t quite hit all its marks, I respect the effort.
This is a movie for viewers who don’t mind horror that’s more about feelings than fear, and more about what’s inside your head than what jumps out at you from the shadows. I’d say it’s a half decent debut for Joanna Tsanis, who shows some potential, and I will keep an eye out for her future work.
In the end though, I’d give The Killgrin a 5.5 out of 10. It’s a slow, messy dive into pain that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. But if you’re in the right mood, it’s maybe worth a one time watch.
The Killgrin Trailer
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