Self-Help – Movie Review (3/5)

SELF-HELP is a new horror thriller that plays out in a small community. The kind that has a cult leader, lots of strange exercises, and is ultimately just a bunch of grifters. A movie with a few gorgeous and sinister twists to keep you guessing.  Read our full Self-Help movie review here!

SELF-HELP is a horror thriller coming to theaters just in time for Halloween 2025. Admittedly, this is closer to 3½ out of 5 for me, but we don’t do half ratings here at Heaven of Horror, and I wasn’t ready to give it a 4 out of 5.

You’ll just have to trust me when I say that this horror thriller has some sinister twists and gorgeously creepy surprises along the way. Also, it gets rather physical (with practical effects) for those in the self-help community. Ironically, as they try to heal themselves.

Continue reading our Self-Help movie review below. Find it in theaters from October 31, 2025.

Trauma, cults, and grifters galore

Admittedly, I do love a good cult movie. However, Self-Help managed to both give me this and a few added layers. It’s no secret that cults often get a hold of new members when they’ve experienced trauma and are vulnerable. Usually seeking help.

Well, in this movie, what appears to be a self-help community is clearly something much darker. For one, it’s run by an obvious grifter. Okay, maybe not at first, but it won’t take long for money to come up. Also, everything about this “community” just screams cult.

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Hot tip: If you need to hand over virtually everything you own to take part in a workshop, then run away. Fast! No one is looking out for your best interest. They’re just looking to get rich fast. At your expense.

That’s the circle of cult-life. First, you experience trauma, then you get caught up in a cult, which will ultimately cost you everything. Often both financially and emotionally. Exactly as you’ll see in this horror thriller.

For the record, no, I haven’t been in a cult. I’ve just watched a lot of cult documentaries of the true crime variety.

A small cast makes for a strong story

With Self-Help, we follow a young woman, Olivia (Landry Bender), as she is about to reunite with her mother. They’ve had a rather strained relationship for a long time. You’ll understand why from the opening scene.

Anyway, it turns out the “retreat” where she’s meeting her mom is actually a dangerous self-actualization community. And her mom, Rebecca (Amy Hargreaves), has started a relationship with the enigmatic leader.

His name is Curtis Clark (Jake Weber), and he is essentially a cult leader. Think Toni Collette in Wayward. However, where she wanted power, this new cult leader is all about getting bags and bags of money.

Much simpler, really, but also a different kind of terrifying.

Olivia didn’t go see her mom on her own. She brought her new best friend from college. Sophie (Madison Lintz), so there is another familiar face for her there. Also attending this self-help workshop (which will get wild) are others in need of help.

These poor fools are portrayed by Carol Cadby, Blaque Fowler, and the director himself, Erik Bloomquist.

Watch Self-Help in theaters for Halloween

Erik Bloomquist is the director of Self-Help, which he also co-wrote with Carson Bloomquist. The two previously made Founders Day (2023) and She Came from the Woods (2022). If you pay attention, you may catch a few Easter Eggs in this new movie.

The Bloomquist brothers also wrote the 2018 mystery thriller Long Lost alongside one of its stars, Adam Weppler. He’s also in Self-Help, but in a smaller role. If you enjoy Self-Help (and I suspect you will), then be sure to check out Long Lost as well.

The theatrical premiere of Self-Help is perfectly timed with a Halloween release. As in on Halloween night itself, which falls on a Friday. Check it out in a theater near you over the weekend, if you’re in the mood for something deliciously creepy in surprising ways.

Self-Help is out in theaters on October 31, 2025.

Details

Director: Erik Bloomquist
Cast: Landry Bender, Jake Weber, Madison Lintz, Amy Hargreaves, Erik Bloomquist, Carol Cadby, Blaque Fowler