Suppressed memories, unresolved grief, and past horrors that won’t stay buried. These stories tap into the ache that lingers.
In Bring Her Back (2025), the directors of Talk To Me return with a haunting foster horror soaked in grief, guardianship, and spiritual misfires. Sally Hawkins delivers an eerie, layered performance in a film that doesn’t always explain itself, but always knows how it wants you to feel.
n The Surfer (2024), Nicolas Cage returns home only to face spiritual and social exile from a brutal beachside cult. Set in a warped vision of Australia, the film unpacks toxic masculinity, ritualistic control, and identity collapse under the sun-bleached weight of the past.
I’ll give Breaking Glass Pictures credit where it’s due; they struck while the iron was hot with that title. “Freak Off” captures the zeitgeist of current headlines surrounding certain hip-hop moguls, and honestly, kudos for getting there first with the provocative branding. The casting department also deserves recognition for finding look-alikes that genuinely hold merit;…
Finding Nicole transforms true crime into testimonial cinema with Kaiti Wallen’s committed performance as a domestic violence survivor fighting systemic abuse. Based on Nicole Beverly’s real story, this indie drama utilizes non-linear storytelling to explore trauma’s lasting impact while exposing how legal systems fail survivors. Sean Whalen delivers a chilling portrayal of textbook abuser psychology, while the film refuses to sanitize violence for comfortable consumption. Despite technical limitations, an authentic approach to survivor experiences makes this essential viewing for understanding domestic violence cases. Mother of Movies reviews this unflinching examination of systemic failures and survivor resilience
Experience Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece like never before in this acclaimed theatre-in-the-round production featuring Paul Mescal. A Streetcar Named Desire gets the Mother of Movies treatment, exploring how intimate staging amplifies domestic violence, sexual tension, and mental deterioration. This theatre-to-screen adaptation preserves live energy while examining toxic masculinity, Southern Gothic decay, and the streetcar of desire that destroys everything delicate in its path. Brilliant sound design, strategic lighting, and exceptional performances create an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Julia Max’s “The Surrender” (2025) starring Colby Minifie and Kate Burton delivers psychological horror that examines toxic family relationships through the lens of supernatural resurrection. When patriarch Robert dies, his widow Barbara and daughter Megan perform a brutal ritual to bring him back, only to discover some monsters are better left dead. This Shudder exclusive combines beautiful cinematography with devastating emotional truth about cycles of abuse and the mythology we create around toxic love. A must-watch for fans of elevated horror that prioritizes psychological terror over cheap scares.
