Ever After – Movie Review (3/5)

EVER AFTER is a fairytale slasher, so you’ll be treated to many familiar stories and a cast full of iconic horror actors. It comes across as folk horror stories mixed and made even darker. While this is a fun watch and a good movie overall, it isn’t a great movie, and it is way too long. Read our full Ever After horror movie review here!

EVER AFTER is a slasher horror movie with a fairytale and folk-horror-driven plot. Not only will the stories and character types be familiar, but you’ll also see many famous faces and hear iconic genre voices throughout. The only real downfall of this fairytale slasher is its runtime. At just over two hours long, it does feel way too long.

Several scenes and moments could easily have been cut or shortened, all without hurting the overall viewing experience. However, once the movie does stop, make sure to stay seated, as this brutal fairytale slasher does have end credit scenes. Yes, Ever After (2026) has an end credit scene early on, so I suggest you stay seated to watch the whole thing. Also, to respect the cast and crew, obviously.

Continue reading our Ever After horror movie review below. Find it in theaters on September 4, 2026, and On Digital just in time for Halloween.

A fairy tale of creatures, mutilation, and blood

Ever After takes place in what appears to be woods haunted by fairy tale creatures. You’ll see pig people, a werewolf type, a girl with a red hood, a witch trying to get you to eat apples, and a man hoping you’ll fit into his special shoe. Oh yes, this is Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm meet the wild world of horror slashers.

It all takes place during a bachelorette party. Seven girls arrive at a forest lodge, where they’ll have fun before two of them are set to get married within the next week. Sadly for everyone, the fun is about to turn into pure dread and terror. Living in this particular “magical” forest is a group of lunatics. They all believe they’re classic fairy tale characters.

Yes, even the frogs living in the woods are given titles and powers by these bloodthirsty people, so you better not harm anything you come across.

Being trapped in these woods, where there is (of course) no signal or any normal people around, the girls find themselves going crazy. The lines between the real world and this fantasy fairy-tale land blur and distort everything. All they know is that they must survive and get out of the woods.

Horror Icons Assemble for Ever After

This 2026 release, which is officially from 2025, has so many horror icons in both small and larger roles. You can look forward to seeing (or at the very least hearing) so many wonderful and beloved horror icons.

Among these actors are Bonnie Aarons, who plays the demonic nun in The Conjuring movies and The Nun spin-off movies. Also, we have Michael Berryman from The Hills Have Eyes and The Devil’s Rejects, who you’ll see from the very beginning.

Using their recognizable voice talents are Kane Hodder, who most will know as Jason Voorhees of many Friday the 13th movies and Victor Crowley in the Hatchet movies, and Malcolm McDowell (Psycho Killer, A Clockwork Orange)

Among the girls in the bachelorette party are Maria de Sá (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), Lara Sas (Popeye’s Return, Popeye’s: Resurrection), and Lydia Pearl Pentz  (The Death of Snow White). Also, I have to highlight Philippe Reinhardt as a twisted “Prince Charming”. He was as weirdly funny as he was horrifyingly frightening. Great job on his part!

Watch Ever After in theaters now and on Digital for Halloween

Ever After was directed by Laszlo Illes (Haunting Trophies, The Shepard). He also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Laszlo Krisztian Gera (Haunting Trophies, The Basement). Even though I have not been eager to watch the horror movies based on Winnie the Pooh or Popeye, I do like it when folk horror or fairy tale characters are used in slashers.

In fact, I’m wondering if maybe I should give some of those other B-horror slashers, based on famous cartoon characters, a shot.

The Ever After fairy tale slasher has already won several awards. It won “Best Horror Feature” at the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival. And while I don’t want to speak badly of any awards or film festivals, one should always look at what it was up against. In this case, however, I’ll just say “bravo” and move on.

I mean, I can easily imagine watching it during a film festival would be the perfect setting. People must have been having a blast, and that only heightens the experience. Again, the only real downfall of Ever After is its runtime. At 125 minutes, it also feels long. Too long. Other than that, I applaud the production quality and all the quirky elements. Clearly, both the cast and crew had fun making this, and the result is fun to watch as well.

Ever After is out in theaters on September 4, 2026, and On Digital from October 27, 2026.

Details

Director: Laszlo Illes
Writers: Laszlo Illes, Laszlo Krisztian Gera
Cast: Mark Sheppard, Michael Berryman, Bonnie Aarons, Malcolm McDowell, Kane Hodder, Maria De Sá, Lydia Pearl Pentz, Meg Vermette, Philippe Reinhardt, Lara Sas, Miklós Béla Székely, Riana Emma Balla