Sew Torn – Movie Review | Shudder (3/5)

SEW TORN on Shudder is a new thriller with a darkly comedic twist and an absolutely fascinating way to tell a story. It’s a sort of “choose your own adventure,” where we see three different outcomes for our protagonist. Read our full Sew Torn movie review here!

SEW TORN is a new Shudder Comedy-Thriller that turned out to be a real delight to watch. It’s difficult to explain exactly why this movie works so well, but it’s obviously the combination of the plot, its execution, and the actors bringing it all together.

This is mostly a thriller, but that darkly comedic element also plays a huge role. The cast is fairly small, and we see three different outcomes play out, so only our protagonist plays a lead role in all three. The remaining characters never last quite as long.

Continue reading our Sew Torn movie review below. Find it on Shudder from November 1, 2025.

Choices and their consequences

Barbara Duggen (Eve Connelly) is “The Mobile Seamstress,” and she is struggling to keep her shop open. It’s a fabric shop that offers a very specific product, as well as being just a “regular” seamstress.

I’ll let you discover her unique product for yourself. I’m just saying, she would be a huge hit on Etsy, but the world in Sew Torn isn’t really set in our world as we know it.

Anyway, after a sewing appointment (for a particular awful client) goes sideways, Barbara needs to go back to the shop to replace a lost button. This is what will set her on the path of disaster.

On the drive back, Barbara stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad. Real bad. Drugs, guns, two injured men, and a very interesting-looking suitcase are all elements of the scene.

Barbara finds herself torn as she contemplates her options: commit the perfect crime, call the police, or drive away. All three choices have consequences, and we’re about to learn what those consequences are.

A magician with a needle and thread

As Sew Torn progresses, we will see the consequences and repercussions of all three decisions. Not least the deadly confrontations that each choice will inevitably result in.

However, what no one was counting on was just how much of a magician with a needle and thread Barbara is. Sure, she’s called The Mobile Seamstress, but it turns out she’s much more of an actual MacGyver.

Watching her use thread to get herself out of the craziest situations is simply brilliant. Both in terms of storytelling and for entertainment purposes. You find yourself trying to figure out what she’s getting at and absolutely rooting for her.

Eve Connelly (The Other Lamb) is perfect as Barbara Duggen. She’s such a peculiar character, but full of heart and an absolutely brilliant problem solver. Supporting Eve Connelly in the cast are John Lynch (The Watchers), Colum Worthy (Pieces of Her), Thomas Douglas, and K Callan.

Constantly getting in the way of our main protagonist is Caroline Goodall’s character. Werner Biermeier’s Melvin doesn’t try to create trouble… but he still might.

Watch Sew Torn on Shudder

Sew Torn was directed by Freddy Macdonald, who also wrote the screenplay with Fred Macdonald. And no, that’s not a mistake, Fred and Freddy Macdonald are two different people.

This is the feature film debut of Freddy Macdonald, and it’s based on his own short film from 2019. Fortunately, he has quite a lot of short films on his IMDb resume, so I’m hoping he can crank out another feature film version of a few more.

Also, I have to mention that I loved the somewhat strange world-building of having it play out in Switzerland, but people speak English with various dialects. A gorgeous backdrop, perfect for the story, but with none of the issues of making a “foreign” (as in “not in English”) film.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of following a protagonist actively living her choices in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style, then check out Sew Torn.

Sew Torn begins streaming on Shudder on November 1, 2025.

Details

Director: Freddy Macdonald
Writers: Fred Macdonald, Freddy Macdonald
Stars: Eve Connolly, Calum Worthy, John Lynch, K Callan, Caroline Goodall, Werner Biermeier

📺 Watch trailer