SHIPWRECKED: NIGHTMARE AT SEA on Netflix is a true crime disaster documentary. It is extremely well-made and absolutely heartbreaking. From the first-hand accounts of the event to the footage, you’ll feel like you were there. Read our full Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea documentary review here!

SHIPWRECKED: NIGHTMARE AT SEA is a Netflix documentary about the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia. The ship sank on Friday the 13th of January, just off the coast of a small island in the Tuscany region of Italy. I remember the 2012 catastrophe vividly. Not least the actions of the captain.

This documentary is labeled as a “disaster documentary”. However, I would argue that it’s also a true crime documentary. After all, the disaster wasn’t natural, but rather man-made. Also, several people were convicted and given prison sentences. All of this is included in the final half hour of the documentary.

Continue reading our Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea documentary review below. Find it on Netflix now.

Useless and incompetent captain

It’s impossible not to compare the events shown in Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea with those of the Titanic. Once again, a ship hits something that causes water to come in with such force that the ship ultimately sinks. Also, there is (again!) an issue with the lifeboats.

The Costa Concordia sank on January 14, 2022 (after crashing into a piece of cliff on Friday the 13th), just off the coast of Giglio Island in the Tuscany region of Italy. They should never have been that close to the island, which is just one of the things that went wrong.

Overall, the captain made many mistakes. He would be known as Captain Coward because he abandoned ship early on.

A famous conversation with the coast guard is also played, and I clearly remember seeing this on the news: The coast guard is angry and virtually ashamed that the captain has abandoned ship and orders him to go back. Captain Francesco Schettino does not follow this order, as he has already gotten safely off the ship.

So many lives lost

Officially, 32 lives were lost in the Costa Concordia tragedy. 27 passengers and 5 crew members. One more person is still missing, but is considered a victim, making the total 33. In Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea, we hear from survivors, and some of them lost loved ones in the disaster.

The people interviewed include many passengers, who speak very honestly about the brutal experience and how it affected them in the years that followed. Also, we hear from crew members, including a chef, a dancer (Rose Metcalf, who was an absolute hero), and the Costa Concordia hotel manager.

From the rescue aftermath, there is a fire brigade diver, a member of the forensic investigation team, and a CNN correspondent. With all these people getting interviewed, we get a very well-rounded documentary that focuses both on the emotional toll and the legal aspects of the disaster.

In fact, I learned that as terrible as the Captain’s actions were (and they were abhorrent), he wasn’t the only person to blame. He even raised concerns about issues that would be part of the disaster.

Key lesson: Horror fans survive!

Admittedly, this is not a core element of the Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea documentary, but I still want to highlight something. You see, two of the people who survive the tragedy are fans of The Walking Dead. As such, they do what many of us do: Talk about how to survive the zombie apocalypse.

This means they look around and notice both exits and possible weapons. While the latter wouldn’t be necessary, the former would become a key. And I always say that horror fans tend to notice and think about these things, so I loved having actual real-life proof in this Netflix documentary.

On a personal note, I would also never have chosen to be on a cruise ship on a Friday the 13th. I mean, come on, that’s just playing with horror lore fire. I joke, of course, but also… I don’t!

Watch Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea on Netflix now!

The Netflix true crime disaster documentary hybrid comes from director Chiara Messineo (producer of Vatican Girl). She has created something full of facts, while also leaving plenty of room for the emotional toll. With Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea, you’re getting a documentary that takes us, viewers, through the 2012 maritime catastrophe.

Plus, thanks to all the actual footage and first-hand accounts, you get very close.

And yes, it is more terrifying than most horror movies. Also, it’s impossible not to feel their dread and fear. Both from hearing them describe the events and from what was caught on camera. The fear and horror are palpable.

So is hearing the translations of the ship’s black box recordings, which expose the cowardly captain.

Finally, I would say that you should probably skip this if you have a cruise ship trip planned. However, with the lesson of The Walking Dead fans surviving, I would say you should definitely watch this. After all, it’s better to prepare for something that will (hopefully) never happen than be caught completely off guard!

Watch it, regardless of whether you love going on cruises or would never dream of it. Also, watch this Netflix documentary because it is truly well-made and follows the chronology of the tragic disaster!

Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea is on Netflix from July 10, 2026.

NIGHT NURSE is often called a psychosexual thriller, but to me it felt more perverted. I don’t want to kink shame, so let me just acknowledge that it did not work for me. I can appreciate the filmmaking craft and quality, but I downright loathed the storyline. Read our full Night Nurse movie review here!

NIGHT NURSE is a thriller that also has words like “erotic” and “psychosexual” attached. Well, that may well be, but it did nothing for me. Or, no, that’s not true. It made me cringe as I found no reason for the way the story escalated. I need a lot more storyline or character introduction for any of the plot to make sense.

There’s clearly a wish to make a David Lynch-inspired movie here. And I can see that. However, for me, it came nowhere near what he has created. Instead, and I apologize for this comparison, it made me think of Compulsion. Well, except that the production quality of Night Nurse is much higher!

Continue reading our Night Nurse movie review below. You can find it in select theaters on July 10, 2026.

So, you want to be a scammer?!

The title of Night Nurse may sound good for a thriller. It could just as well have been titled “So, you want to be a scammer” or maybe “Old scammer, young nurse”. Yeah, I am a little bitter because I expected this story to be one thing, and it was something very different.

I mean, if you read a plot about a “starry-eyed nurse” who becomes “entangled with her mysterious patient” and a “series of perverse scam calls”, then you wouldn’t expect this either. I don’t think many would.

It all plays out in an idyllic retirement community. A place not unlike what we see in The Boroughs. Well,  except everyone seems to have a personal nurse. The kind that virtually coddles them, despite these senior citizens looking healthy enough.

Anyway, before you know it, the young nurse will be making scam calls at the behest of an elderly man in pajamas. Next, she just cannot resist him. No one can, apparently. Suddenly, there’s a whole throuple situation (three people in one relationship).

“How? Why?!” you may wonder.

Well, don’t look to me for answers, as I do not understand these characters at all.

And the actors are clearly doing as asked, so I’m not going to go after them.

Real-life inspiration… sort of

To me, this felt like something made by a stereotypical “dirty old man” as a fantasy brought to life on screen. It wasn’t even made by a man, but instead by a younger woman. Now, I have no problem with age differences (as long as two consenting adults are involved), but it just made no sense to me.

Apparently, this movie was inspired by a phone call the director’s grandmother received one night, years ago. This was a scam caller, not unlike what you’ll see in the movie.

Sounds like a great premise, I can appreciate that.

However, how do you go from your grandmother nearly getting scammed – due to feeling needed by the person pretending to be her grandchild – to writing a psychosexual erotic thriller from the POV of the scammer?! I do not understand.

Nor do I really want to, I suppose.

There’s also a love of the iconic doomed “love story” that played a part in the creation of this movie. And I understand this part even less. To me, there is a huge difference between a steamy relationship (that came out of nowhere in this movie) and an actual love story. This one offers neither, as I experience it.

But hey, that’s just me, and I am clearly not the key demographic. Not that I know who would be.

Watch Night Nurse in select theaters

Night Nurse was written & directed by Georgia Bernstein. This is her feature film debut as both director and screenwriter, which presents me with a bit of a conundrum when it comes to this review. On the one hand, I can appreciate the craftsmanship of filmmaking as a director. On the other hand, I loathed the plot.

Yes, loathed is a strong and very loaded word, but it feels appropriate here. And I’m sorry for that, but I can also gather that I’m not the only one with this experience.

If you’re curious, then – by all means – check it out for yourself. You always should, no matter what any film review or user review says. To me, however, the plot sounded really intriguing, and the final product was not at all what I expected. I did not enjoy this one at all, but I appreciate the filmmaking qualities.

Night Nurse opens in select theaters on July 10, 2026.

Details

Director: Georgia Bernstein
Writer: Georgia Bernstein
Cast: Cemre Paksoy, Bruce McKenzie, Eléonore Hendricks, Colleen Rose Trundy, Mimi Rogers

CORPORATE RETREAT is a dark horror comedy about a teambuilding event that goes horribly wrong. It’s not by accident, mind you, but rather by design. In other words, something sinister and deadly is about to go down. Read our Corporate Retreat movie review here!

CORPORATE RETREAT is a horror comedy with a plot so dark and sinister, you’d think it was inspired by Saw. Seriously, the “tasks” the employees have to go through on this HR-planned (but definitely not managed) retreat feel like they could have been planned by Jigsaw himself.

At first, I was entertained and had fun watching this genre hybrid. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too long (even though it’s only 90 minutes), and it gets somewhat stuck. There’s too much of a lull and way too many unlikable characters. It’s a real problem when you start hoping that someone will be the next to die.

Continue reading our Corporate Retreat movie review below. Find it On Demand on July 10, 2026.

Complete the task or die

As revealed by the title of Corporate Retreat, this movie takes place at a team-building retreat meant to help corporate employees bond more. Or rather, these are not your average employees. They are a group of ambitious tech corporate executives, and they do not like to be told what to do.

Well, they’re going to have to get over this. The luxury team-building retreat is set at a remote desert estate and will essentially be hijacked by someone who wants to teach them a lesson.

The employees have several tasks they must overcome or complete. If they don’t, then they will die.

In that sense, I’m sure any horror fan can understand the comparison to the “games” created by John Kramer, AKA Jigsaw. However, as is the case with the “fun games” in the Saw movies, they can survive. It’s just that it requires some rather extreme and deep sacrifices.

Too many unlikable characters

What irks me about Corporate Retreat isn’t so much the plot itself. I am fine with that – even if I do feel it was done much better in the movie The Conference – but the characters are just too annoying. Way too often, I found myself not caring whether they were able to complete the tasks.

Also, even when things went well, sometimes they just gave up, and that annoyed me as well. For the record, I did enjoy the cast, so this was more about how the characters were written.

In Corporate Retreat, you’ll see Alan Ruck and Odeya Rush alongside an ensemble cast featuring Ashton Sanders (Moonlight), Sasha Lane (Twisters), Benjamin Norris, Zion Moreno (Find Your Friends), Tyler Alvarez, Elias Kacavas, Kirby Johnson, and Ellen Toland.

Plus, you’ll see Rosanna Arquette early on, but she isn’t really in a starring role.

Watch Corporate Retreat on VOD

The film is directed by Aaron Fisher (Inside The Rain) and co-written by Kerri Lee Romeo and Aaron Fisher. I also want to note that the special effects makeup was designed and created by British special make-up effects designer Gary J. Tunnicliffe.

The special effects absolutely worked amazingly for Corporate Retreat. Of course, Gary J. Tunnicliff is also known for his work on horror franchises. Not least the Hellraiser series from 1992-2018. Also, I should mention that the score was composed by Anna Drubich (Barbarian).

This horror genre-mix had its worldwide premiere at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. It was also awarded Best Ensemble Cast at the 2026 Fantaspoa festival and opened on 512 screens nationwide during its wide theatrical release in May.

Corporate Retreat is unrated, which won’t surprise anyone who watches it, as the violent and visceral scenes would’ve made for a crazy rating. Does that automatically make it a good horror comedy? Not to me, but I feel confident that others will have a blast with it, so do check it out. This is not a bad movie; it just didn’t impress me.

Corporate Retreat is out on VOD from July 10, 2026.

Details

Director: Aaron Fisher
Writers: Kerri Lee Romeo & Aaron Fisher
Cast: Alan Ruck, Odeya Rush, Ashton Sanders, Rosanna Arquette, Sasha Lane, Benjamin Norris, Zión Moreno, Tyler Alvarez, Elias Kacavas, Kirby Johnson, Ellen Toland

EVIL DEAD BURN is the latest story in the iconic cult horror saga. This one is non-stop gore, almost from the very beginning. I imagine many horror fans will love this, while I found myself getting desensitized, but I still had an absolute blast watching it. Read our full Evil Dead Burn horror movie review here!

EVIL DEAD BURN is a horror movie that covers so many of the most hardcore subgenres within horror. From body horror to folk horror, dark fantasy, splatter, and even psychological horror. And that’s naming just a few of the official subgenres.

This is hardly new for the Evil Dead franchise, but with this 2026 addition, we’re getting a movie that delivers these extreme moments of violence with a relentless force. This makes for a wild ride and great fun, but not the kind that sticks with you in the same way some of the previous movies did.

Having said that, you are in for one fine slasher treat. Just remember to breathe, because the pace of this movie does not leave much room for that!

Continue reading our Evil Dead Burn movie review below. Find it in theaters from July 10, 2026.

Hold on to… well, anything!

Evil Dead Burn has been called “the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date” in the press material, and they are not exaggerating. This 2026 Evil Dead movie is pure carnage and new extremes of demonic mayhem.

It all begins at a lake that will be very familiar if you’ve rewatched the previous release in the franchise, Evil Dead Rise. And no, you don’t have to watch the previous movie, but it would serve as a solid warm-up. Not least because Evil Dead Burn goes so much harder, so it could be a good “warm-up” to rewatch the previous.

In any case, Evil Dead Burn takes place mostly in a secluded home that looks like it could fall apart at any minute. There’s dust and rot everywhere, which means it will be perfect for the events about to take place.

The soon-to-be Deadites

We’re in this home with a woman, Alice (Souheila Yacoub), who just lost her husband (George Pullar) in a grotesque car “accident”. He was a very angry and violent person, who didn’t treat her well, but to his parents (Tandi Wright and Erroll Shand), he was the wonder boy.

Also in the house are her brother-in-law, Joseph (Hunter Doohan), his girlfriend, Thya (Luciane Buchanan), and finally, the maternal grandmother of the deceased man, Polly (Maude Davey).

Now, in a movie with this much extreme violence, with blood and guts flying everywhere, Polly was a brilliant comedic element that I loved. Grandma Polly’s mind is all but gone, so she is a little confused and delivers some amazing moments that allow you to let your guard down for a second. Do not fall for that!

Of course, Evil Dead Burn will escalate as all Evil Dead stories do, transforming the family members into Deadites. One by one. This little family gathering meant to help them all deal with grief turns into a family reunion from hell. Complete with actual demonic guest stars!

Extreme, intense, and absolutely relentless

As much as I enjoyed the extremely wild ride of Evil Dead Burn, it was probably a little too much. I know, I can hardly believe my own words, but this horror slasher subgenre-mix galore is almost non-stop. So, while I found myself enjoying the craziness of it all, I was not getting very involved.

Evil Dead Burn is damn fun entertainment for horror fans (myself included). However, I must admit that I preferred the previous installment. This is primarily because it left more room for the emotional and psychological elements of the story.

Obviously, this isn’t a prerequisite for enjoying a horror movie, but still. What can I say?! Horror hits harder when I get to know the characters a little better.

Don’t get me wrong, Evil Dead Burn is still an awesome horror slasher, and I will definitely watch it again. It fits perfectly within the universe of this cult franchise. It’s just that it isn’t my favorite of the recent Evil Dead movies – even though I did enjoy the crazy intensity of it!

Watch Evil Dead Burn in theaters!

Evil Dead Burn was directed by Sébastien Vaniček, who also directed the 2023 horror thriller Infested (org. title: Vermines). The screenplay also comes from director Sébastien Vaniček alongside Florent Bernard. The two also wrote the movie Infested, which you can find on Shudder.

Of course, it’s all based on Sam Raimi’s original creation from 1981: The Evil Dead.

Among the producers, you will see many familiar names, as this is an Evil Dead movie. It’s produced by Rob Tapert and, of course, Sam Raimi. And then, among the executive producers, we have Bruce Campbell, Romel Adam, Sarah Spurway, Jose Cañas, and the director of the previous Evil Dead movie: Lee Cronin.

If you’re a fan of the Evil Dead franchise, then I expect you will love this latest 2026 movie. It goes extremely hard, which makes it feel like a movie made by a fan of the franchise and as a treat for fans. Even “fan service”, but in the best possible way. I would’ve liked a little more depth, but I still had a blast on this extreme ride!

EVIL DEAD BURN is out in US theaters on July 10, 2026.

Details

Director: Sébastien Vaniček
Writers: Sébastien Vaniček & Florent Bernard
Cast: Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Errol Shand, Maude Davey

THE OUTER THREAT is a sci-fi thriller about an event that appears to be apocalyptic in nature. That sounds fairly cryptic, I know, but you should definitely watch it. It’s really awesome and has a great cast featuring Constance Wu and Mark O’Brien. Read our full The Outer Threat movie review here!

THE OUTER THREAT is probably not what you’d expect from a sci-fi thriller, but in the best kind of way. If I were to compare it to anything, I would probably refer you to A Quiet Place. Not that the stories are anything alike, but due to the character-driven plots with a family as the driving force.

I do love a good genre hybrid, and this one went places I did not expect, but always felt extremely organic in how it evolved. Please, do not seek out spoilers before watching this movie. It has so much to offer if you just go into it without knowing too much.

The runtime is just over an hour and a half, which is perfect. It left me wanting a sequel, which is not because it doesn’t have a good ending, but because I wanted to see what could or would happen next.

Continue reading our The Outer Threat movie review below. Find in On Demand on July 10, 2026.

Off the grid, but still of this world

In The Outer Threat, we meet a family of four. We have parents, Daniel and Michelle (Mark O’Brien and Constance Wu), living off the grid with their son (Isaac Smelcer-Zhang) and daughter (Callista Crowe). They may be living off the grid in a rural area, but they are still dependent on the world in other areas.

Both parents are astrophysicists, but Michelle has lot a lot of faith in humanity and is focused on their children, while Daniel still hopes for a scientific discovery or breakthrough. It comes very unexpectedly after he makes a groundbreaking extraterrestrial discovery.

The problem: Daniel has made “discoveries” before that turned out to be nothing. His wife wants him to work less and focus on their kids, because she’s seeing her husband make all the same mistakes her own dad did. Speaking of her dad, Michelle hasn’t spoken to him for more than a decade, but Daniel still does.

Yet another sign that he is too much like her dad, who could not stop working… even when the family needed him present. Of course, once Daniel finally gets Michelle’s attention, she is equally excited about the discovery. And then she is terrified.

Why? I won’t give that away here. Let’s just say she is right to be worried, but maybe not for the reason she expected.

Loved this cast

The two key characters are portrayed by Constance Wu and Mark O’Brien. She is the true genius of the two, which is well-established, as Mark O’Brien’s “Daniel” agrees. These two characters manage to be both bold, flawed, and extremely relatable.

She wants to move on from their work and focus on creating a better future for their kids. He is still all about working, though it’s obvious that he loves his family. Constance Wu and Mark O’Brien portray these two characters in such a way that you care for both. You’ll probably recognize both types from your own life.

I also really enjoyed the younger characters, and the young talents portraying the kids in the family, Isaac Smelcer-Zhang and Callista Crowe, were amazing. If they hadn’t been, The Outer Threat as an overall experience would have suffered for it.

In other key roles that I won’t reveal here, you can look forward to seeing William Fichtner (Beef S2), Oscar Hsu (The Copenhagen Test), and Murray Furrow (The Madness).

Watch The Outer Threat on VOD

The Outer Threat was written and directed by William Woods, and I absolutely love his style. From the character-driven story to the pacing and the overall plot, this sci-fi thriller was such an awesome experience.

I am so ready for a sequel, though it really is not required. In fact, I probably hope it won’t come as it really is not needed. The Outer Threat is a complete story told in 94 minutes, which works wonderfully. Not least thanks to the relatable characters and scientifically grounded plot, you can easily follow.

Yes, even without being an astrophysicist.

This is ensured by using the very simple tactic of having the parents, the actual astrophysicists, explain what has happened to their kids. Just like that, things have been explained simply and without talking down to the audience (or their own kids, for that matter).

Previously, William Woods wrote The King Tide (2023) and Violence (2025), and he has been a producer on more than 20 productions (including Honey Bunch), but this is his first time directing. And far from the only time, I hope.

Do not miss out on The Outer Threat, which could easily have been a great theatrical experience as well.

The Outer Threat is out On Digital and On Demand on July 10, 2026.

Details

Director: William Woods
Writer: William Woods
Cast: Constance Wu, Mark O’Brien, William Fichtner, Callista Crowe, Isaac Smelcer-Zhang, Oscar Hsu, Murray Furrow

REELING is a movie best described as a “psychological experience”. Obviously, this isn’t a genre, but it’s difficult to pinpoint the genre for this movie. Is it a thriller, a mystery, or simply a psychological drama? Yes! It is all of the above… and then some. Read our Reeling movie review here!

REELING is a movie that has the most gorgeous setting and feels full of love. And yet, the main character is trapped in his own hell after trying to overcome a brain injury. Five years earlier, he was in an accident, and while he can walk and talk now, the journey appears to have been long and difficult.

So, what kind of movie is this? Well, it’s a genre hybrid, but not the sci-fi or fantasy variety. Instead, this is psychological warfare, and it’s one man both battling and healing himself. He has no recollection of the accident… but soon, he will remember a key detail that changes everything.

The runtime of just 1 hour and 16 minutes is ideal, as you almost can’t handle any more at that point.

Continue reading our Reeling movie review below. Find it on VOD from July 7, 2026.

Recovery is a struggle

If you know anyone who has had to recover from a serious illness or a debilitating accident, then you’ll recognize the dynamics of Reeling. Some people have patience and understanding, while others just want everything to “go back to normal”.

Whatever that is?!

With Reeling, we meet people at either end of that spectrum and at every point in between. Even the patient himself, Ryan, is struggling to get back to how things were, while also trying to allow himself time and space.

The latter appears to be running out, as some of his closest family members are getting very tired after five years of being caretakers. And yet, Ryan does seem to be feeling much better and is functioning at a decent level. I say decent because the events at his sister’s birthday party will show that he is still far from recovered.

Maybe he never will be.

So many questions…

What Ryan struggles with the most is his memory. Not just of the accident, though that is bad enough, but also of virtually everything else. Both things that happened decades ago and whatever happened five minutes ago.

It’s like watching Memento, but in some sort of strange real-time version.

Reeling takes place during one day, which just happens to be Meg’s birthday. She’s Ryan’s sister and one of the people he can recognize and clearly trusts. At the party are both family and friends, but not too many, which is why Meg felt confident that Ryan could handle it.

However, as Reeling unfolds, it becomes obvious that he is struggling, and the night evolves in ways that are very uncomfortable for everyone. Including us viewers!

One of the most tragic moments is when he starts remembering the accident, but also struggles to hold on to that memory. And it’s a real doozy to witness him remember and react to this revelation.

Watch Reeling on VOD

Reeling comes from director Yana Alliata, who manages to create a very intimate setting for a small story. One that feels so big due to its impact on so many people. A very powerful feature film debut for the director. Also, Yana Alliata & Amy Miner wrote the screenplay, which works wonderfully in its pace.

Also, I have to mention the actors who deliver amazing portrayals of people who feel so real. As Ryan, we have Ryan Wuestewald (who reminds me so much of Matt Damon), while his sister Meg is played by Nikki DeParis, and his brother John is portrayed by Hans Christopher.

Iconic filmmaker Werner Herzog is among the executive producers, and the movie premiered at SXSW in 2025. Since then, it has played at other film festivals and is now coming out on VOD.

In many ways, Reeling is a psychological mystery of sorts. It’s a mystery within a drama that turns into a thriller towards the end due to what we discover through Ryan’s memories. Despite not being able to put one genre on this movie, I can tell you that I adored everything about it.

From the amazing setting and the outpouring of love from all the characters, I completely felt like I was simply a guest at a party full of caring people. And yet, there is always this underlying current of something scary and dark. This is the fact that everyone is still reeling (yep, there’s the title) from tragic events.

Reeling is out on VOD on July 7, 2026.

Find it on Apple TV, Amazon, and Fandango at Home, just don’t miss out on it!

Details

Director: Yana Alliata
Script: Yana Alliata & Amy Miner
Cast: Ryan Wuestewald, Hans Christopher, Nikki DeParis, Makena Miller, Fabrizio Alliata, Michael E. Carter, Nyah Juliano

BLACK BOX is a supernatural sci-fi horror movie that takes place on a plane. It’s intense and should keep you guessing. Don’t worry, you will be getting a lot of answers before it’s all over. It does have a wild ending. For the record, you may want to skip it if you’re travelling by plane soon. Read our full Black Box movie review here!

BLACK BOX is a little genre treat that has a simple premise but is very well executed. I really enjoyed the way this storyline evolved and was surprised as the plot unfolded. The runtime is just 85 minutes, so you won’t be waiting too long before we get to the wild stuff.

In fact, much like Deep Water, some time is well spent introducing characters, which helps the rest of the movie. It results in us having characters we care about and a few (okay, maybe just one) that we hope will be one of the first to go.

However, other than doing a good job at introducing characters, the two movies are nothing alike.

Continue reading our Black Box movie review below. It’s in theaters now, but will be out on VOD on July 7, 2026.

Don’t watch this on a plane

I hope no one would be crazy enough to include Black Box as part of their in-flight entertainment. However, some genre fans traveling may be wild enough to watch this movie on a plane. You shouldn’t really. Not that anything in this movie should happen in real-life. Then again, who knows?!

Isn’t that what Disclosure Day just tried to tell us?!

In any case, Black Box plays out on your average domestic flight. The kind where the passengers are people going on vacation, those traveling to visit relatives, and the annoying businessman who thinks he’s more important than everyone else.

Yeah, he’s the really annoying character, and he only gets worse as the story evolves and escalates.

Avoid spoilers for Black Box

Anyway, on this flight, several strange and weird things will happen. Everything from a possible outbreak of some sort to an external threat. Oh yeah, these passengers are put through the wringer, and we are along for the ride.

At a very safe distance, fortunately.

For your own sake, you shouldn’t know too much more than this before watching the movie. It’s much more fun to see what happens than to anticipate the escalation because you’ve read spoilers for Black Box.

Instead, I can tell you that you have a lot of wonderful actors to look forward to, and most of the characters aren’t even that annoying. Even the tinfoil-hat-wearing character (yes, literally) isn’t one of the annoying ones.

Black Box stars Tom Brittney (Invasion, Fall 2: Deadpoint), Holly White (Home and Away), Betsy Blue English (Sky Monster), Dane Whyte O’Hara (Blue Lights), Kaja Chan (Cracow Monsters), and Asa Ali.

Watch Black Box on VOD

Black Box comes from director Steven Quale, who also gave us Final Destination 5, so he knows all about crafting those brutal death scenes. And yes, this supernatural horror thriller definitely delivers on those! He also directed the 2014 disaster movie Into the Storm, so he can handle those larger-than-life moments.

The screenplay comes from Stephen Susco, who you may know from the 2018 horror movies Hell Fest and Unfriended: Dark Web. He also wrote the screenplay for the 2004 US remake of The Grudge, which I preferred to the original.

Producers on this genre-hybrid include Jon Oakes (The Guilty), David Haring (Fall), Christian Mercuri (Obsession), screenwriter Stephen Susco, and Warren Zide (the Final Destination franchise).

Admittedly, I didn’t expect too much from this supernatural sci-fi horror fantasy hybrid, but it absolutely delivered more than I ever anticipated. I find myself wanting a sequel to dive deeper into the world-building presented, which is always a good thing.

Black Box was released in theaters on June 17 and is now coming to VOD on July 7, 2026.

Details

Director: Steven Quale
Writer: Stephen Susco
Cast: Tom Brittney, Holly Leena White, Betsy Blue English, Boadicea Ricketts, Molly Belle Wright, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Asa Ali, Kaja Chan, Ceallach Spellman, Georgina Leonidas, Danny Mac, Vaughn Johseph, Hanneke Talbot, Weronika Rosati