Review – The Surrender (2025) is a nightmarish look at loss and dependence Cinemax
Shudders The surrender is a slow-paced horror film that understands the value of emotional gravity. Instead of sprinting towards the terror, he settles into it – letting the fear rise through his narrative like rising water. At its core, it’s a story about relationships, perspectives and the dangerous pull of addiction. The film presents addiction not just as an emotional crutch, but as a lens – distorted, limited and uncomfortably honest. It is this thematic claim that makes something stand out The surrender from standard streaming fare to something richer and more resonant.
Colby Minifie delivers one of her best performances to date, embodying the fragile balancing act between vulnerability and denial with haunting precision. Opposite her, Kate Burton is phenomenal – calm, measured and deeply unsettling in a way that never feels forced. Together they create a dynamic that feels alive, raw and achingly believable, grounding the film even as its supernatural elements begin to spiral around them.
The director’s restraint plays a major role. The horror comes not from jump scares, but from the slow tightening of emotional screws. The film scares with foreshadowing, foreshadowing and atmosphere, maintaining a lingering sense of unease that rarely subsides. Viewers looking for bombastic horror may be surprised at how visceral and thoughtful the terror feels, but those who like narratives that stay under the skin will find much to appreciate.
However, the film’s focus on grief and loss – even though it is thematically central – can seem overwhelming. “The Surrender” delves so deeply into the emotional realm that some viewers may be exhausted by the grief. It’s less a misstep than a stylistic choice, but it limits the film’s accessibility.
Despite it, The surrender is a compelling and deeply humane horror film – one that understands that the scariest monsters are often the ones we invite, nurture, and cling to, even as they undermine us. Heavy, unsettling and beautifully acted, this is a genre entry that rewards patience with resonance.
