When the Past Refuses to Stay Buried

Read Time:5 Minute, 22 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Confession
–

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Drama
Year Released: 2026
Runtime: 1h 27m
Director(s): Will Canon
Writer(s): Will Canon
Cast: Italia Ricci, Zachary Golinger, Scott Mechlowicz, Terence Rosemore, Allie McCulloch, Justin Matthew Smith
Where to Watch: available on Digital & On Demand January 16, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: What do we owe our children when the damage we carry predates them? That issue endures throughout THE CONFESSION, a supernatural horror film that reaches for generational reckoning even as it struggles to keep its own mythology in check. Writer/director Will Canon builds the story around grief, inheritance, and moral debt, crafting a film that wants to unsettle both emotionally and spiritually, even if it never reconciles its ambition with execution.

The setup is effective enough and immediately unsettling. Naomi, a widowed musician, returns to her childhood home with her young son following her father’s death. In the attic, she discovers a cassette tape in which her father describes a murder he claims was committed to protect himself from an unnamed evil force. It’s a simple conceit, but one loaded with implication. The idea that violence can be framed as duty, or even righteousness, becomes the film’s central unease. As Naomi listens, the past stops being abstract and starts asserting itself in the present, particularly through her son’s increasingly disturbing behavior.

Canon’s personal connection to the material is clear. His director’s statement frames THE CONFESSION as a response to growing up in a rigid Southern religious environment and later becoming a father himself. That dual influence gives the film its strongest thematic footing. This is a story about fear masquerading as protection, about belief systems that justify cruelty in the name of purity, and about the pressure to conform. When the film stays focused on those ideas, it’s thoughtful and unsettling in a grounded way.

Italia Ricci carries much of that weight. Her performance as Naomi is restrained and believable, grounded in exhaustion rather than hysteria. She plays grief not as spectacle but as erosion, something that has worn her down before the supernatural elements ever arrive. That restraint helps the early portions of the film feel believable, even as strange details begin to accumulate. Zachary Golinger, as her son Dylan, offers an interesting performance. His execution walks a difficult line, conveying unease without leaning into mockery. The film’s tension often works best when it simply allows him to exist on screen, letting silence do the heavy lifting.

Where THE CONFESSION starts to struggle is in its handling of rules. The mythology surrounding the evil force, its history, and its method of influence gradually becomes more complicated without becoming clearer. Early ambiguity feels intentional, even effective. As the film progresses, however, new elements are introduced in ways that make things more confusing rather than deepen the story. By the final act, the film is juggling religious symbolism, folklore, and moral allegory without integrating them. The result isn’t chaos so much as dilution. What once felt focused starts to feel scattered.

Scott Mechlowicz’s Grayson functions as a grounding presence early on, offering Naomi a tether to the rational world. His role is effective until the narrative shifts its attention elsewhere, at which point his purpose becomes less defined. Terence Rosemore’s Harling, meanwhile, brings gravitas, but his late arrival introduces a shift that changes the film’s balance. Instead of sharpening the story’s stakes, his presence risks simplifying them. The film begins to explain itself more directly just when it might have benefited from restraint.

The cinematography favors muted tones and controlled framing, reinforcing the sense of quiet suffocation that defines the setting. Sound design is used sparingly but effectively, especially in moments involving the cassette tape itself, where the texture of recorded audio becomes a psychological trigger. The score supports the mood without overwhelming it, maintaining tension without resorting to constant escalation.

The film’s pacing is steady; at eighty-seven minutes, it avoids overstaying its welcome, but there are stretches where scenes feel repetitive rather than cumulative. This is less about length and more about focus. The film wants to explore grief, faith, generational trauma, and supernatural horror all at once. While those elements are thematically connected, they aren’t always aligned.

It’s worth noting how often THE CONFESSION works beautifully—individual scenes land with real impact. Certain images stay with you. The central metaphor of inherited sin, passed down like a recording waiting to be played, is a strong one. Canon’s instincts are solid, and his interest in character keeps the film from collapsing under its own ideas. The emotional throughline remains intact enough to carry the experience. THE CONFESSION is a thoughtful genre film with strong performances and meaningful intent, held back by an overcomplicated mythology. It works best when it trusts the audience.

For viewers drawn to horror that grapples with belief, inheritance, and moral responsibility, THE CONFESSION offers enough substance to justify the time. It may not fully deliver on its promise, but it’s engaged, serious, and often effective. That makes it worth watching, even if it never quite becomes what it wants to be.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of QUIVER DISTRIBUTION]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.