When Memory Becomes the Monster

Read Time:5 Minute, 29 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Dreadful Place
–

Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 36m
Director(s): Cole Daniel Hills
Writer(s): Cole Daniel Hills
Cast: Keaton McLachlan, Matt Fling, Abigail Fawn, Daved Olivencia, Brittany Hills, Cole Daniel Hills, James Scott Charles Howells
Where to Watch: releasing later in 2025

RAVING REVIEW: Horror doesn’t always need a monster to haunt you. Sometimes the real unease builds in silence—in the way someone avoids a memory, or how a smile doesn’t quite reach their eyes. This film thrives on that discomfort, building its atmosphere from emotional static rather than loud theatrics. Instead of chasing adrenaline, it slips under the skin, turning introspection into something unnerving. What unfolds isn’t just psychological horror—it’s a slow collapse of certainty, where what’s real becomes less important than what you’ve tried not to remember.

At the center of it all is Willow, whose resilience has been stretched to the limit. The upcoming anniversary of her father's death serves as a trigger, cracking open a past she’s tried desperately to suppress. Keaton McLachlan brings a subtlety to the role, playing Willow not as a traditional protagonist, but as someone who’s learned to wear her silence like armor. She doesn’t lash out or break down in ways that feel performative—her unraveling is internal, and the camera leans into that.

The story, though nonlinear, builds its stakes through a surreal framework. Willow becomes trapped in an abstract mental space where former relationships manifest in volatile, disjointed ways. These are loaded, threatening distortions of her psyche. Each character she encounters feels like a reflection of her internal wounds. Emma, Chris, and Thomas are less about what they were and more about what Willow fears they’ve become. Their presence creates a chilling dynamic, not because of what they do physically, but what they represent emotionally.

The narrative doesn’t hand out easy answers. It builds tension by letting scenes morph in tone and meaning. There’s an intentional lack of clarity that mirrors the fog of grief itself. At times, characters seem to shift mid-sentence, locations bleed together, and moments echo in confusing loops. This fragmentation could easily frustrate an audience expecting traditional pacing or a structured plot, but it’s also a calculated artistic decision. Whether it always pays off is debatable, but it’s undeniably bold.

That said, some segments feel too committed to abstraction. The middle of the film, in particular, suffers from a sense of drift. Visual metaphors stretch thin, and the storytelling occasionally leans too heavily on style when a grounded moment carries more weight. It’s not that surrealism doesn’t work—it often does—but in several key moments, it feels like the emotion of the scene was sacrificed for the mood of it. A stronger tether to character motivation would have made certain transitions hit harder.

Where the film regains its footing is in its final act. The emotional focus sharpens, and there’s a subtle shift from expressionistic chaos to something more human. Willow’s journey doesn’t become clearer in the sense of explanation, but it gains clarity in emotional intent. Instead of unraveling further, she begins stitching things back together—not to fix herself, but to finally face what’s been chasing her. It’s a satisfying narrative arc, one that rewards patient viewers without compromising the story’s more experimental tone.

Visually, the film punches above its weight. Its use of practical effects, moody lighting, and claustrophobic framing elevates even the simplest scenes. The camera is often too close for comfort, forcing viewers into Willow’s space, echoing her suffocating emotional state. There’s no space to breathe, no room to retreat, which is precisely what makes the quieter scenes so unnerving. Even when nothing overtly threatening is happening, there’s a looming sense that something is off.

The rough-edged sincerity becomes the film’s most compelling strength. It’s easy to imagine a cleaner, more conventional version of this story. But that version wouldn’t feel as honest. Here, even the messiness has purpose. The imperfections, instead of distracting, often feel like proof of how much was risked to make it happen.

What makes this project stand out is its refusal to pander to the audience. It doesn’t give the audience a blueprint for interpretation. It asks you to get lost in it. That can be a hard sell. But if you’re someone who values ambition over neat execution, there’s a lot to unpack here. It won’t be for everyone, but for those willing, the experience lingers.

There’s plenty that could’ve been tightened—structurally, emotionally, and visually. But there’s just as much to admire. It’s an unconventional narrative that takes creative risks, some more successful than others, but rarely plays it safe. It understands that horror isn’t always about what chases you—it’s about what you’ve been trying to outrun on your own. That internal tension is what gives the story its real weight. And even if it stumbles along the way, it never loses sight of what it’s trying to say.

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 Overly Honest Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of CHILLS PRODUCTIONS]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive free items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl, Books, etc. 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.