Retreat (2024) by Christopher Newberry: A Haunting Descent into Trauma

Short Summary: Sanity on the Brink A mother and son, grieving a recent family tragedy, seek solace at a secluded mental health retreat. However, they soon discover that the retreat is not a place of healing but a sinister trap. As disturbing truths about their family's past and the retreat's twisted intentions are revealed, they find their sanity and their lives in peril. The film is a genre-bending psychological thriller that explores the dark depths of grief and the horror of psychological unraveling.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26548800/

Link Review: https://gnofhorror.com/retreat-2025-a-chilling-descent-into-trauma/

About movie: https://www.christophernewberry.film/

Link to watch: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retreat-Christopher-Newberry/dp/B0DX2171PM (UK), https://www.amazon.com/Retreat-Christopher-Newberry/dp/B0DX1ZMLTD/ (US)

Retreat (2024) by Christopher Newberry: A Haunting Descent into Trauma

Short Summary: Sanity on the Brink A mother and son, grieving a recent family tragedy, seek solace at a secluded mental health retreat. However, they soon discover that the retreat is not a place of healing but a sinister trap. As disturbing truths about their family's past and the retreat's twisted intentions are revealed, they find their sanity and their lives in peril. The film is a genre-bending psychological thriller that explores the dark depths of grief and the horror of psychological unraveling.

Detailed Summary: A Grieving Family's Nightmare

• A Family's Grief: Following a family tragedy, a mother and her son, Harry, attend a mental health retreat. They are hoping to find a way to process their grief and move on with their lives. The retreat is in a remote, isolated location, which initially feels like a safe, peaceful setting.

• The Retreat's Dark Secret: It doesn't take long for the mother and son to realize that the retreat is not what it seems. Instead of providing therapeutic help, it harbors a sinister and manipulative agenda. The staff's methods are unsettling, and the retreat's purpose is far from a typical healing experience.

• Psychological Unraveling: As the film progresses, the mother and son are subjected to intense psychological manipulation. The truths they believed to be certain are called into question, and the lines between reality and delusion begin to blur. The retreat's agenda is to prey on their trauma and use their grief for a dark, unknown purpose.

• A Terrifying Confrontation: The climax of the film sees the mother and son confronting the horrifying reality of their situation. The film's suspense and horror are heightened as they fight for their sanity and survival against the retreat's malevolent forces.

• A Chilling Resolution: The film concludes with a chilling revelation that exposes the full extent of the retreat's sinister nature and the dark secrets that have been hidden from them. The final moments leave the audience on edge, questioning what is real and what is a product of their psychological manipulation.

Director's Vision: Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Delusion Christopher Newberry's vision for Retreat is to craft a genre-bending psycho-thriller that keeps the audience on edge until the very last moment.

• The film is designed to be a "chilling descent into trauma and cultish" manipulation.

• Newberry's approach is to use a visually stunning style to create a heavy, unsettling atmosphere, making the audience question what they are seeing.

• The film explores the idea that true horror can be found not in external monsters, but in the psychological unravelling of the human mind when pushed to its limits.

Themes: Grief, Trauma, and Manipulation

• The Nature of Grief: The film uses the mother and son's grief as a central theme, exploring how trauma can make a person vulnerable to manipulation. It shows how grief can be a confusing and isolating experience, and how that can be exploited by others.

• Psychological Manipulation: A key theme is the horrifying reality of psychological manipulation. The retreat and its staff work to break down the mother and son's sanity, causing them to doubt their own memories, perceptions, and relationships.

• The Dangers of Self-Help Culture: The film can be seen as a cautionary tale about the darker side of self-help culture and the dangers of placing trust in institutions and individuals with unknown motivations. It suggests that the path to healing is not always what it seems.

Key Success Factors: A Tense, Well-Paced Horror Film

• Strong Atmosphere: The film has been praised for its visually stunning and tense atmosphere, which keeps the audience engaged and on edge throughout.

• Convincing Performances: The performances of the cast, particularly Mike Kelson and Harry Walters, are noted as a key factor in the film's success. Their portrayal of a mother and son on the brink of psychological collapse makes the horror feel real and visceral.

• Originality in a Crowded Genre: Retreat stands out from other horror films by focusing on psychological horror rather than typical jump scares. Its unique approach to the genre, and its exploration of real-world fears like psychological manipulation, makes it a fresh and exciting entry.

Awards and Nominations: A Promising Start for an Indie Film Retreat has been well-received on the festival circuit. It won "Best Horror Film" at the London Horror Awards. Its premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival also garnered positive attention, with the film being described as a "future cult favourite."

Critics Reception: A Chilling Exploration of Psychological Horror

• Gnofhorror: A review from Gnofhorror describes the movie as a "haunting exploration of grief and psychological unravelling," praising the director's ability to create a "chilling descent into trauma." The review highlights the film's eerie backdrop and its powerful exploration of psychological horror.

• Highonfilms: This review appears to be for a different film called "In Retreat." There are no readily available reviews from this source for Christopher Newberry's film.

Overall, critics see Retreat as a promising indie horror film. They praise its strong atmosphere, unique take on the genre, and convincing performances. The film has been noted for its ability to create genuine terror through psychological manipulation rather than cheap scares.

Reviews: A Cult Favorite in the Making

• Prime Video: Reviews from Prime Video users are largely positive, with the film being described as "award-winning" and "genre-bending." It is described as a "psycho-thriller that keeps you on edge" with a visually stunning aesthetic.

• Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb: While the film has been released, there isn't a significant number of reviews on these major platforms yet to form a consensus. However, it's mentioned that it has an IMDb score of 7.9, which is a very positive indication.

Overall, the film seems to be generating positive buzz with audiences and independent critics alike. It is being heralded as a unique and effective horror film that will likely find an audience among fans of the genre.

Why to recommend movie: A New Take on Horror

• Genuinely Unsettling: If you're tired of predictable horror movies, Retreat is a must-watch. It creates a sense of dread and unease that is truly unsettling, focusing on psychological horror rather than special effects.

• Excellent Performances: The cast delivers powerful and convincing performances that make the characters' fear and despair feel real. You will be invested in their story and genuinely worried about what happens to them.

• Visually Striking: The film is visually stunning, with a cinematic quality that enhances the eerie atmosphere. This is a film that looks as good as it is tense.

Movie Trend: The Rise of Psychological Horror Retreat is part of a growing trend in the horror genre that prioritizes psychological terror over gore and cheap scares. This trend, often seen in independent films, focuses on character development, atmospheric tension, and mind-bending plots that leave the audience questioning reality. These films, such as Get Out and Hereditary, have been commercially successful and critically acclaimed, showing a desire from audiences for more intelligent and thought-provoking horror.

Social Trend: Mental Health and Wellness Scams The film taps into a social trend of skepticism towards the commodification of mental health and wellness. In a world where self-help retreats and wellness gurus are becoming increasingly popular, Retreat serves as a cautionary tale. It explores the fear that these institutions, which promise to heal, could be doing more harm than good, and that they may be preying on the vulnerable for personal gain. This trend reflects a larger societal distrust of institutions and a desire to be more critical of who we trust with our mental well-being.

Final Verdict: A Visually Striking and Tense Psychological Thriller Retreat is a tense, atmospheric, and genuinely unsettling psychological thriller. Christopher Newberry has crafted a film that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant, taking a familiar horror premise and infusing it with fresh, psychological dread. With strong performances and a compelling plot, it is a must-watch for fans of independent horror who are looking for a movie that will keep them on the edge of their seats and in their minds long after the credits have rolled.