PROTECT YOUR OWN.

When Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott) and his family leave San Francisco for his father’s old cabin in remote Oregon, they are immediately derailed by a mysterious monster.

Originally intended to be part of Universal’s defunct ”Dark Universe”, this is a watchable and fairly fresh take that successfully uses bits and pieces of the 1941 classic as it tells a story about illness and family.

Gets off to a promising start, bogs down whenever it focuses too much on dad’s transformation process, but recovers with an exciting third act. Boosted by an atmospheric score.

2025-U.S. 103 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Leigh Whannell. Screenplay: Leigh Whannell, Corbett Tuck. Music: Benjamin Wallfisch. Cast: Christopher Abbott (Blake Lovell), Julia Garner (Charlotte Lovell), Matilda Firth (Ginger Lovell), Sam Jaeger, Benedict Hardie. 

Trivia: Co-executive produced by Whannell and Ryan Gosling, who at one point was slated to star, with Derek Cianfrance directing.