Dead Mail – Movie Review | Shudder (4/5)

DEAD MAIL on Shudder is a new horror thriller made in the vein of an 80s horror movie. It’s character-driven with solid storytelling and manages to be slow-burn and retro in the best ways. Read our full Dead Mail movie review here!

DEAD MAIL is a new Shudder horror thriller drama hybrid that surprised me in amazing ways. While the trailer intrigued me, I wasn’t entirely sure whether the style of the trailer would match the actual movie.

A few times too many, a trailer has made a promise the movie couldn’t deliver on. Fortunately, this Shudder indie movie turned out to be even better than I ever imagined from the trailer. Especially thanks to powerful storytelling and wonderful performances.

Continue reading our Dead Mail movie review below. Find it on Shudder from April 18, 2025.

Smalltown horror in the 1980s Midwest

The opening scene of Dead Mail shows a scene that is also featured in the trailer. While appearing to be a spoiler, it is, in fact, both a starting point and the end of something. We’re on a desolate, Midwestern county road, and see a bound man crawling towards a remote mailbox.

In a clearly desperate attempt to get help, the man manages to complete his mission: In his hand was a blood-stained plea-for-help message that he pushes through the mail slot before the person, coming in fast behind him, is able to stop him.

Next, we see where the note ends up in a post office, where they have a genius working all the “dead letter” cases.  Again, we’re in the 1980s, and I loved seeing how this postal service investigator attacks each case. With no internet or “quick fixes,” the tasks are tedious.

But this guy, Jasper, is an actual genius at what he does. Also, it turns out he has a helper, who does have access to some tools that are more along the lines of what we use today. Well, in its infancy, but still.

As Jasper gets close to piecing together clues from the letter, he ends up on a dangerous path. The kidnapped man was a keyboard engineer, and his eccentric business associate is a dangerous man who is relentless in his pursuit of perfect sound.

Be patient, and the reward is immense

All the above is just the beginning of Dead Mail.

For the people in Dead Mail and those of us watching, it’s all about being patient and giving it time to develop. The reward of working the clues and allowing the story to unfold is worth it. At first, I was wondering if this movie in any way belonged on Heaven of Horror.

It does. It most definitely does.

Dead Mail is a slow-burn story with a character-driven plot, where we experience it from several points of view. All without the repetitive nature these kinds of stories often entail. It’s definitely both horror and thriller, with the mystery as the catalyst for many plot points.

Also, that amazing 1980s vibe and the Midwestern setting add a lot to the overall experience. It’s not just a gimmick but rather a key element of the story as well.

Is Dead Mail based on a true story?

No, Dead Mail is not based on a true story. However, part of the storyline and even lore in this fictitious world is that it’s made to appear that way.

And I loved how real it all felt.

The movie even ends with updates on all the characters and shows pictures of the “real” people this movie is all about. I mean, it is fiction, and clearly stated as such at the end of the credits.

However, another part of the end credits gave these updates on the characters. It’s all part of giving us the full package. In that sense, I felt almost like it had been a mockumentary.

Watch Dead Mail on Shudder

Dead Mail was co-written and co-directed by Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy. I absolutely adored the 80s vibe and can easily see why this was a hit at film festivals.

This movie made its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in 2024. After this, it was selected for Toronto Film Festival’s Midnight Madness Section, Sitges Film Festival, and Brooklyn Horror Fest.

It stars Sterling Macer Jr., John Fleck, Susan Piver, Micki Jackson, Tomas Boykin, and Nick Heyman. All of the actors in this movie were amazing. From big roles to small, they all made real impacts on the story and the audience.

With Shudder premiering the movie as part of their annual Halfway to Halloween celebration, wider audiences can finally enjoy this wonderfully twisted and elegantly crafted genre gem.

Dead Mail makes its exclusive streaming debut on Shudder on April 18, 2025.

Details

Directors: Joe DeBoer & Kyle McConaghy
Writers: Joe DeBoer & Kyle McConaghy
Cast: Sterling Macer Jr., John Fleck, Susan Piver, Micki Jackson, Tomas Boykin, Nick Heyman