"IT FEEDS" (2025) Is Already One Of The Best Horror Movies Of The Year. (REVIEW)

Canadian horror has a long, rich, storied history. We first became aware of it as separate from the U.S.-based horror we were furiously consuming in the early '80s during the phenomenal slasher run from 78 to 84. As VHS tapes flew in and out of our VCR, we slowly realized that many of the movies we watched had a distinct look and feel, not to mention a delightful accent. “Prom Night” (1980), “My Bloody Valentine” (1981), “Terror Train” (1980), “Incubus” (1981), “Happy Birthday to Me” (1981), “Curtains” (1983), the list goes on and on.

The Canadian Government was crucial in fostering creative growth and support with their Tax Shelter Program, which enabled filmmakers to deduct 100% of their investment in a Canadian feature film from their taxable income. Without this, we may never have gotten the early films of David Cronenberg, or Daryl Duke’s critically acclaimed “The Silent Partner” (1978), Ivan Reitman’s “Meatballs” (1979), or Bob Clark’s “Murder by Decree” (1979), one of our personal favorites. The decades since have only produced better, more creative productions from this wildly inventive film community. “Cube” (1997), “Anything for Jackson” (2020), “Pontypool” (2008), “Possessor” (2020), and “In a Violent Nature” (2024) are just a few of the remarkable horror films our neighbor to the north has given us.

Now we have a new, phenomenal entry to this impressive list, Chad Archibald’s “It Feeds” (2025), which is not only an expertly well-crafted exercise in building tension and horror till the point of hyperventilation, but it also happens to be one of the best horror films of the year.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “IT FEEDS” BELOW

SYNOPSIS:

Cynthia Winstone (Ashley Greene) and her daughter Jordan (Ellie O’Brien) spend their days helping traumatized clients find peace through Cynthia’s ability to enter their subconscious to uncover the root of their pain. Think Freddy Kruger for good. Into their world bursts a young girl, Riley (Shayelin Martin), at the end of her rope, desperate for help. Before they can discover the cause of this trauma, her father, Randall (Shawn Ashmore), takes her from the house, setting in motion an escalating chain of events that reveal what’s actually at stake and the devastating consequences of trying to help this troubled girl.

Image Courtesy Of Black Fawn Films.

WHAT WORKS:

Just about everything in this film works. We’ve known of Chad Archibald since 2015, when we first saw “Bite,” at Creepfest. It showed promise, if not entirely in execution, certainly in enthusiasm. Since then, he’s directed “The Heretics” (2017) and “I’ll Take Your Dead” (2018), two films that demonstrated Archibald’s growing sense of scale, focus, and skill. The culmination of that talent is on full display with “It Feeds.” The film is layered, complex, emotional, and genuinely terrifying. Archibald creates a mesmerizing dynamic of real-world and metaphysical dread that we haven’t seen since “Nightmare on Elm Street” hit theaters back in ‘84. Getting a career-best performance from Ashley Greene as a mother, both blessed and cursed with her unique gift, is just one of the many solid performances in the film.

Image Courtesy Of Black Fawn Films.

The chemistry between Green and O’Brien, as mother and daughter, feels entirely authentic, drives the narrative, and adds the emotional stakes that make the third act an edge-of-your-seat white-knuckle experience. Taking this duo, and making it a trio, with the addition of Juno Rinaldi as Agatha, the audience’s surrogate, through which we experience just how insane and out of control the situation is getting, is just one example of the many smart choices Archibald makes that elevate this film well beyond typical genre fare. Rinaldi kills as the comic relief and is used perfectly to balance the tension. Shawn Ashmore plays against type as the films conflicted heavy, and manages to elicit sympathy for a character that is doing some truly heinous things. The cinematography from Jeff Maher shines, especially in the subconscious scenes, creating a distinct, somewhat off-kilter feel reminiscent of photographer Gregory Crewdson. Shout out to actor Brooklyn Marshall, who plays the creature in the film. Panther-like in movement, this physical performance is some of the best we’ve seen and adds a thrilling intensity to scenes that already had our hair on end.

Image Courtesy Of Black Fawn Films.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

Like all films, no matter the director or cast, we can’t restrain from using an imaginary pair of scissors to start making cuts to the film. At an hour and forty-two minutes, “It Feeds” is a tight, well-constructed thrill ride that kicks off with a banger of a cold open and never steps off the gas until the end credits roll. A few edits here and there would tighten the film further, but these are small nitpicks and would add very little to what’s already a superbly constructed film.

Image Courtesy Of Black Fawn Films.

SUMMARY:

Chad Archibald’s “It Feeds” is one of those films that sneaks up on you without warning. We love these delightful surprises, especially when the result is so good that it immediately makes your “Best Of” list only three months into the year. This is film-making and storytelling on a level that transcends the genre. There are rich, dramatic beats to the film, and an incredibly strong representation of female power, which is always a refreshing deviation from some of the more misogynistic takes we’ve seen recently. Treat yourself and seek this one out on the big screen with a packed house for the full experience; you won’t regret it.

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