top of page
Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
Search

Movies: New Life (2023) by John Rosman – A Tense Viral Pursuit Thriller

  • Writer: dailyentertainment95
    dailyentertainment95
  • Sep 25
  • 4 min read

A Fugitive Story With Apocalyptic StakesNew Life (2023) is a gripping horror-thriller about Jessica, a mysterious woman on the run, and Elsa, the fixer tasked with tracking her. As their cat-and-mouse chase unfolds, the story escalates into a tense, apocalyptic confrontation that explores morality, survival, and the cost of human connection. Directed and written by John Rosman, this debut feature combines slow-burn tension with bursts of shocking violence. It has earned 4 wins & 2 nominations on the festival circuit, including Best First Feature at genre festivals.

Why to Watch This Movie – Gripping Pursuit with Emotional Core

  • A Fresh Take on Viral Outbreak Thrillers – Instead of focusing on mass destruction, New Life keeps the story intimate, following two women on opposite sides of the crisis. This makes the tension more personal and human while slowly revealing the stakes.

  • Complex Female Leads – Hayley Erin and Sonya Walger deliver grounded, emotional performances that make the chase feel believable. Their characters are flawed, determined, and layered, which adds depth to the thriller format.

  • Slow-Burn Pacing With Big Payoff – The first half carefully builds atmosphere and mystery before the outbreak threat is revealed. Once the infection’s nature becomes clear, the film shifts into a more intense, survivalist thriller.

  • Strong Practical Effects – Makeup work during transformation scenes is praised for its realism and creepiness. The practical approach keeps the horror visceral without leaning too heavily on CGI.

What is the Trend Followed – The Intimate Apocalypse

Catchy Title: Small-Scale Horror, Big Emotional ImpactNew Life follows the modern horror trend of personalizing global catastrophes, focusing on a few characters instead of large-scale destruction. Much like films such as It Comes at Night or Pontypool, it explores how isolated, human-level struggles reveal more about fear and resilience than spectacle ever could.

Director’s Vision – John Rosman’s Bold Genre Debut

  • Grounded Approach to Outbreak Horror – Rosman keeps the action close to the characters, emphasizing emotion over spectacle. This choice helps the story feel more grounded and relatable.

  • Focus on Dual Perspective – The narrative is split between hunter and hunted, giving weight to both women’s struggles. This creates empathy for both sides and keeps the tension morally complex.

  • Minimalist but Effective World-Building – The film avoids exposition dumps, letting the audience piece together the nature of the outbreak. This maintains suspense and engagement throughout.

Themes – Humanity on the Edge

  • Isolation and Connection – Both protagonists struggle with loneliness and the need to connect in a collapsing world. The film explores whether empathy can survive in desperate times.

  • Moral Ambiguity – The story avoids easy answers about who is “good” or “bad.” Instead, it highlights survival choices and personal consequences.

  • Fear of the Body – With its infection element, New Life uses body horror as a metaphor for the loss of control. It forces characters to face what’s inside them—both literally and psychologically.

Key Success Factors – What Makes It Work

  • Tight Runtime (85 Minutes) – The short runtime keeps the film lean, maintaining tension without overstaying its welcome. This pacing is ideal for a slow-burn thriller.

  • Strong Central Performances – Sonya Walger’s portrayal of Elsa adds emotional gravity, while Hayley Erin’s Jessica keeps the audience rooting for her survival. Together, they elevate the film beyond its indie budget.

  • Atmospheric Cinematography – The Pacific Northwest setting adds a moody, isolated backdrop perfect for a pursuit thriller. Naturalistic lighting enhances the grounded tone.

Awards & Nominations – Festival Darling with Recognition

New Life won 4 awards and earned 2 nominations on the festival circuit, including Best First Feature at the Portland Horror Film Festival and Best Actress for Hayley Erin at the Panic Fest Awards. The recognition helped boost its profile as one of 2023’s standout indie horror-thrillers.

Critics Reception – Early Praise for Tone and Tension

  • Variety – Praised the film’s slow-burn atmosphere and emotional stakes, calling it “an unusually human take on viral horror.”

  • Bloody Disgusting – Highlighted the makeup effects and tension but noted the abrupt ending could leave audiences unsatisfied.

  • Collider – Appreciated the dual-character structure and the performances, stating that the film “punches above its weight as a debut.”

  • Summary: Critics generally agree that New Life is a smart, low-budget thriller that balances human drama with horror elements. Its slower first half divides audiences, but those who stay engaged are rewarded with an emotional, unsettling payoff.

Reviews – Mixed but Generally Positive Audience Response

  • Letterboxd – Users praised the intimate scale and the twist, though some found the pacing too slow.

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – Sits at a mid-60s rating, with praise for the performances but some criticism of the abrupt ending.

  • IMDb Users – Rate it around 5.6/10, with many reviews saying it’s “good but not great.”


    Summary: Viewers appreciate the performances and tension but are divided on the film’s pacing and finale. It works best for those who enjoy quiet, character-driven thrillers rather than action-heavy horror.

Release Date on Streaming

New Life is available on Amazon and Apple TV (MENA) as of late 2024. Its availability on major platforms has helped it find a larger audience after its festival run.

Theatrical Release

It premiered in select theaters on June 3, 2024 (UK) before moving to streaming platforms. The limited theatrical run helped build word-of-mouth buzz among horror fans.

Movie Trend – Quiet Horror Revival

New Life is part of the recent wave of “quiet horror” films that use slow tension, eerie sound design, and intimate storytelling to create dread rather than jump scares.

Social Trend – Exploring Chronic Illness & Mortality

The inclusion of Elsa’s ALS diagnosis reflects a growing social trend of including serious, real-world illnesses in genre films. This grounds the horror in a relatable human struggle and makes the story resonate more deeply.

Final Verdict – A Small but Powerful Genre Entry

New Life is not a flashy blockbuster but a thoughtful, slow-burn thriller that rewards patience. Fans of character-driven horror and tense, minimalist storytelling will find it a worthy addition to the outbreak-horror subgenre.

 

Comments

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

©2020 by DailyEntertainmentWorld. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page