The Surrender Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

This new independent horror film is more than it lets on. Uniting a heartbreaking family drama with frightening supernatural elements. 

Genre: Drama / Horror 

Director: Julia Max

Cast: Colby Minifie, Kate Burton, Vaughn Armstrong, Neil Sandilands, Alaina Pollack, Pete Ploszek, Chelsea Alden, Mia Ellis & Riley Rose Critchlow.

Run Time: 96 min.

US Release: 23 May 2025 (Shudder)

UK Release: 23 May 2025 (Shudder)

German Release: N/A

While searching through various streaming services for a new shocker that my girlfriend and I could watch, we came across this latest release on Shudder’s platform. We weren’t sure what to expect; the trailers we witnessed suggested gory, supernatural terror, though what we obtained was more than that. The tension surrounding the family was believable, though it also had its very slow moments. Julia Max’s feature-length debut is a promising one! So let us jump into the critics circle, as we go through my review for The Surrender.

An already frail mother-daughter relationship is put to the ultimate test when the patriarch of the family dies, as his grieving wife is ready to risk it all by performing a brutal ritual to bring her beloved back to life.

As stated before, this is Julia Max’s directorial debut, having also written the screenplay herself. She used the experience with the loss of her stepfather, just like the ensuing journey of grief, plus caregiving together with her mother, as the inspiration for the premise’s core. Special focus is given on the strain that such experience can leave in a mother-daughter kinship. 

Marketed by the trailers as an intense, supernatural mystery-horror, The Surrender is way more than it is sold as. A study into the psyche of the fragile human mind dealing with the grief after losing a loved one, the plot delves deep into how different coping processes can have a lasting effect on relationships during emotional distress. These central topics are wrapped in a story that depicts the complex layers within family structures.

Similar to Eggers’ The Witch, it slowly starts unravelling a supernatural subplot, reaching its peak in the third act, with bloody violence. However, the true horror is the discomfort between daughter and mother, as their connection starts falling apart.

That said, it has one big flaw, which is its pacing. Specific key moments feel either rushed or have been stretched to death, destroying any stress it managed to build. It also utilises jarring story transitions that disrupt the flow of the movie. 

Conversations sound genuine, fleshing out the conflict between character relationships, without ever feeling over-dramatic, but rather realistically nuanced. The emotions are appropriately charged, using reasoning behind discussions.

This feature contains only a limited number of protagonists, four for that matter, creating intimacy, as well as focusing specifically on two of them. 

Colby Minifie, from The Boys fame, gives a standout portrayal as Megan, the daughter, who returns back home to take care of her sick father, together with her mama. The estranged relationship between her and her mom is further fractured by the impending death of her father, with both women mourning their loss differently. Minifie gave the rendition a humanly flawed touch, making Megan sympathetic, while grounding her further. 

Kate Burton plays Barbara, who gives an equally masterful performance as Robert's wife/Megan’s mum. Her emotional attachment to her husband gives understanding for her further actions, as she is unwilling to keep on going without her spouse. Burton’s portrayal is emotionally raw. Vaughn Armstrong as the terminally ill patriarch of the family has limited dialogue, though his character is central to the subjects that are explored.

Neil Sandilands as the stranger, who makes his entry in the third act, has barely any lines. He is a criminally underexplored mystery figure, feeling like an exposable persona only added for the final twist. 

Cinematographically, DP Cailin Yatsko created a moody picture that captures the themes of the narrative well, especially with the colour palette reflecting sentiments. The camera is fluid, employing long static or panning shots, while the framing is elegant, including textured composition that adds depth to character-centric segments. Overall, the style echoes the screenplay's dramatic core. Unfortunately, it also utilises needlessly irritating cuts that disrupt moments plus disorient viewers. The lighting can be too dim at times, creating poor visibility. 

The use of effects is subtle, focusing rather on character-driven moments. That said, the few set in place function to aid the plot, rather than overwhelm it, by announcing specific turning points. Computer effects are constructively combined with practical ones, maintaining a realistic setting. 

The key element in creating an uncomfortable surround is the sound design. Crunches, squishes or growls are added to most goriest moments, while the score, composed by Alex Winkler, keeps the tension steadily high with its haunting string music.

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Verdict: A hauntingly reflective, first-time feature-length premise by Julia Max, this melodramatic shocker will stay with audiences well after the initial watch. With subjects such as loss, grief, death, as well as the strain such experience can have on a family, focusing especially on the mother and daughter. The horror is built up steadily: Starting as an uneasy feeling, as audiences experience firsthand the tumbling fallout between kinship, as mom and daughter deal with their pain in different ways, peaking as a supernatural gore fest, in its final stage. The acting of both leads is superb, displayed as natural plus grounded. The camera, just like the sound, highlights the film's shifting atmosphere. That said, it suffers from severe pacing issues, including jarring cuts that diminish the suspense. It’s a fantastic, psychological slow burn that crescendos in a bloody finale. The Surrender obtains a 7.0  out of 10. 

Have you seen this indie terror flick yet? If so, what did you think of it? Do you agree with my thoughts? Thank you very much for reading! Don’t forget to like, share & subscribe for more content.