Virginia Film Festival

The Smiths desperately needs a holiday. Ignoring warnings from gruff locals who advise they stay away at all costs, the goofy family settle on a the Swedish island of Svälta. Unbothered by the lack of local hospitality, they gleefully sets about swimming, hiking, enjoying the isolation.

The remote setting is perfect for their special plans, but they’re not the only ones glad for all the eery quiet. With a blend of blood-curdling thrills, dark humor, and unexpected plot twists, director Steffen Haars keeps audiences both laughing and on the edge of their seats on the way to a stunning finale.

What starts as a comedic riff on the folk horror conventions of The Wicker Man and Midsommar takes a corkscrew turn, leading to an unexpected and delightful payoff. A sharp script by Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) is brought to life by a stellar UK cast—Frost, Aisling Bea (This Way Up), Maisie Ayres (Criminal Record), Sebastian Croft (Love, Death & Robots)—and a fantastically creepy Eero Milonoff (Border).

“A righteous genre swing…and a welcome destination for horror fans”
-Matthew Donato