New Movies: Restless (2025) by Jed Hart

Restless (2025): The Nightmare Next Door

Description: "Restless" (2025) is a British psychological thriller with elements of dark comedy, marking the feature directorial debut of Jed Hart, who also wrote the screenplay. The film centers on Nicky (Lyndsey Marshal), a mild-mannered care worker whose quiet life is brutally disrupted when a loud, disruptive party animal, Deano (Aston McAuley), moves into the house next door—her recently deceased parents' former home. Subjected to relentless sleepless nights, Nicky is gradually pushed to her breaking point, escalating into a tense war of attrition that threatens her sanity and leads her to contemplate extreme measures.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27689356/

Link Review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/31/restless-review-relatable-real-life-horror-in-nightmare-neighbour-thriller

About movie: https://www.quiverdistribution.com/news/'restless'-trailer-takes-revenge-on-the-worst-neighbors-ever

Link to watch: https://athome.fandango.com/content/browse/details/Restless/4111765?cmp=rt_leaderboard (US), https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0MUL9TG5G4VGW57ZITI71T9MYN/ref=dvm_src_ret_ca_xx_s (Canada)

Detailed Summary: Nicky, a diligent care worker, lives a solitary existence next door to the house where her late parents once resided. Her life, filled with classical music and quiet routines, is shattered when a group of rowdy young men, led by the obnoxious Deano, move into the adjoining property. Their constant, loud parties, blasting music, and late-night antics quickly turn Nicky's home into a living hell. Despite her attempts to reason with them and seek help from authorities, she finds no respite.

As sleep deprivation takes its toll, Nicky's physical and mental health deteriorates. The film cleverly uses sound design to immerse the audience in Nicky's escalating torment, blurring the lines between her reality and her delirium. Driven to the brink, Nicky, a woman who previously embodied kindness and restraint, begins to contemplate increasingly desperate and dark actions to reclaim her peace. The narrative unfolds over a tense week, often featuring flash-forwards to a potentially violent outcome, building suspense around how far Nicky will go. Amidst the chaos, she finds an unexpected connection with the awkward but well-meaning traffic warden, Kevin (Barry Ward), whose attempts to help only highlight her growing isolation and desperation. "Restless" explores the thin line between victimhood and retribution, blending psychological suspense with moments of dark, unsettling humor.

Plot Summary:

• Quiet Life Disrupted: Mild-mannered care worker Nicky's peaceful existence is shattered by new, raucous neighbors next door.

• Escalating Torment: Relentless noise and sleep deprivation push Nicky to the brink of her sanity as authorities offer no help.

• Desperate Measures: Driven by a desire for peace, Nicky, a seemingly gentle woman, considers extreme and dangerous actions.

• Psychological Descent: The film explores her mental and emotional deterioration as she engages in an escalating war against her neighbor.

Director's Vision: Jed Hart's directorial vision for "Restless" is to craft a visceral and relatable psychological thriller that taps into the universal frustration of nuisance neighbors. He aims to explore the destructive power of sleep deprivation and the dark corners of the human psyche when pushed to its limits. Hart uses immersive sound design and artful cinematography to convey Nicky's escalating anxiety and delirium, effectively putting the audience into her disturbed headspace. He intends to present a story where an ordinary individual is forced to confront extraordinary circumstances, blurring the lines between victim and vigilante, and infusing the drama with unsettling dark humor.

Themes:

• The Nightmare of Nuisance Neighbors: Explores the real-life torment and psychological impact inflicted by inconsiderate and disruptive neighbors.

• Sleep Deprivation & Sanity: Delves into the profound effects of chronic lack of sleep on mental health, decision-making, and the erosion of one's grip on reality.

• Transformation & Revenge: Examines how a seemingly mild-mannered individual can be pushed to extreme lengths, contemplating and enacting dark retribution when all other avenues fail.

• Urban Isolation & Helplessness: Highlights the feeling of powerlessness and isolation when one's private space is invaded and official systems offer no effective recourse.

• Dark Humor in Adversity: Blends the tense psychological thriller elements with moments of unsettling, morbid humor, often arising from Nicky's desperate actions.

Key Success Factors:

• Relatable Premise: The universal experience of dealing with difficult neighbors creates immediate empathy and an uncomfortable sense of recognition for the audience.

• Lyndsey Marshal's Central Performance: Lyndsey Marshal delivers a compelling and physically convincing portrayal of a woman on the edge, anchoring the film with her nuanced depiction of descent into desperation.

• Immersive Sound Design: The film effectively utilizes sound to convey Nicky's torment, making the audience feel her sleep deprivation and the incessant noise, which is crucial for the psychological horror.

• Jed Hart's Debut Flair: Jed Hart demonstrates a strong directorial voice in his feature debut, balancing psychological tension with moments of dark comedy and a distinct visual style.

Summary Short: "Restless" (2025) is a British psychological thriller by Jed Hart. It follows Nicky (Lyndsey Marshal), a mild-mannered care worker, whose life spirals into chaos due to her relentless, noisy new neighbors. As sleep deprivation takes hold, Nicky is pushed to extreme measures to regain peace. The film premiered in late 2024 and saw its main UK theatrical release on April 4, 2025, and a digital release in May 2025. It is praised for its relatable premise, Marshal's performance, and immersive sound design.

Awards and Nominations:

• Nominated for the Raindance Maverick Award at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).

• World Premiere: Tribeca Film Festival 2024.

• European Premiere: Glasgow Film Festival (March 2025).

Critics Reception: Initial critical reception for "Restless" has been largely positive, with many critics praising its relatable premise, Lyndsey Marshal's performance, and Jed Hart's confident directorial debut.

• Screen Rant (Rachel Ulatowski): Hailed it as a small-scale psychological thriller that could "make a star out of Lyndsey Marshal."

• The Arts Desk (Demelza Moore): Found the film to be a "psychological comedy-drama" and lauded Hart's "flair as a visual storyteller" and "impeccable sound design."

• Critical Popcorn (Tessa): Described it as an "incredible debut feature from Jed Hart," calling it an "efficient and well-paced thriller."

• Overall Summary: Critics commend the film for its taut suspense, dark humor, and how it effectively conveys the torment of its protagonist. Lyndsey Marshal's performance is consistently singled out as a highlight.

Reviews: Reviews emphasize the film's psychological depth and effective genre blending:

• Screen Rant: "The sound editing makes Restless what it is. And it is unrelenting."

• The Arts Desk: "Watching this good-natured woman resort to a series of vigilante crimes is the psychological comedy-drama's chief pleasure."

• Critical Popcorn: "It's edge of your seat stuff, each scene descending further and further into anxiety and watching through your fingers."

• Overall Summary: Reviewers largely agree that "Restless" is an effective and immersive thriller, particularly strong in its sound design and lead performance, offering a cathartic experience for anyone who has faced similar domestic annoyances.

Production: "Restless (2025)" is a British production. This psychological thriller has a runtime of 89 minutes (1 hour 29 minutes) and is presented in color. The film was written and directed by Jed Hart in his feature directorial debut. Filming locations included various spots in Kent, UK, including Westbrook Bay and Quex Park, contributing to its authentic British setting.

Production Companies:

• Haus Pictures: (UK)

• Village Films: (UK)

Sales Companies:

• Metis Films: (UK) - Handles UK sales and distribution.

• Blue Finch Films: (UK) - Reported to handle international sales.

Distribution Companies:

• Metis Films: (UK) - Theatrical and digital distributor in the UK.

Release Date on Streaming: "Restless (2025)" became available for rent and purchase digitally in the UK from May 19, 2025. International streaming availability will vary by region and distributor.

Theatrical Release:

• UK: April 4, 2025 (limited theatrical release)

• World Premiere: Tribeca Film Festival 2024

Why You Should Watch This Movie:

• It's Unsettlingly Relatable: If you've ever had a difficult neighbor, this film taps into that universal dread, escalating common frustrations into a gripping psychological thriller that feels disturbingly real.

• For Lyndsey Marshal's Compelling Performance: Lyndsey Marshal delivers a truly captivating portrayal of a woman pushed to the edge. Her performance vividly captures the physical and mental toll of sleep deprivation and the slow descent into desperate measures.

• A Masterclass in Psychological Tension: Director Jed Hart expertly uses sound design and tight pacing to create an immersive sense of dread and anxiety, putting you squarely in the protagonist's tortured headspace and keeping you on the edge of your seat.

• A Fresh Voice in British Cinema: As Jed Hart's feature directorial debut, "Restless" showcases a confident new talent. It's an efficient, well-crafted thriller that blends genre elements with a sharp, dark wit, marking him as a director to watch.

• It Explores the Dark Side of Human Nature: The film isn't just about a noisy neighbor; it's about what happens when an ordinary person is driven to extraordinary and potentially violent acts, raising uncomfortable questions about boundaries, sanity, and retribution.

Why to Watch Movie:

• If you love psychological thrillers: It's a tense, character-driven film that messes with your mind.

• To experience a relatable nightmare: It takes a common annoyance (noisy neighbors) and turns it into a gripping descent into madness.

• For a standout lead performance: Lyndsey Marshal's portrayal of a woman on the edge is highly praised.

• To see strong debut filmmaking: Jed Hart demonstrates impressive control over suspense and atmosphere in his first feature.

• If you appreciate British independent cinema: It's a gritty, well-executed example of contemporary UK filmmaking.

What Movie Trend Film Is Following: Relatable Thrillers & Social Realism Horror: The film taps into everyday anxieties (noisy neighbors, lack of peace) and escalates them into a psychological thriller, aligning with a trend of genre films rooted in mundane but terrifying realities. It also explores the theme of urban psychological pressure and the thin line between civility and desperation.

What Big Social Trend Is Following: The Stress of Modern Living & Boundaries: "Restless" speaks to the increasing stress of urban living, the importance of personal space, and the helplessness many feel when their peace is invaded. It touches on themes of mental well-being under duress and the breakdown of community cohesion when individuals resort to extreme measures to defend their personal sanctuary.

Final Verdict: "Restless (2025)" is a taut, unsettling, and highly effective psychological thriller that leverages a universally relatable premise to devastating effect. Jed Hart's confident directorial debut, coupled with Lyndsey Marshal's compelling performance, creates a visceral and immersive experience of one woman's descent into desperation. The film masterfully uses sound and psychological tension to draw the audience into its protagonist's torment, making it a cathartic and often darkly humorous watch. For anyone who's ever endured a nightmare neighbor, "Restless" offers a thrillingly dark fantasy of retribution.

Recommendations for Film Makers:

• Exploit Relatable Premises: Identify common human experiences (like nuisance neighbors) and elevate them into high-stakes genre narratives, leveraging audience empathy.

• Master Sound Design: Utilize sound as a primary tool to build tension, convey character psychology, and immerse the audience in the protagonist's subjective experience.

• Prioritize Performance in Contained Stories: In films with limited settings or a strong central character, invest in a lead actor capable of carrying the emotional weight and portraying a complex psychological journey.

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

• Support Emerging Talent: Continue to back debut feature directors like Jed Hart who demonstrate clear vision and strong execution in genre filmmaking.

• Invest in Micro-Budget Thrillers: Recognize the potential for high-impact, low-cost thrillers that rely on strong premises, performances, and atmosphere rather than expensive effects.

• Promote Niche, Relatable Stories: Understand that films tapping into specific, common anxieties can find a dedicated audience and resonate deeply, even without a massive marketing budget.