• Release year: 2025
• Director: Brock Bodell.
• Producers: Brock Bodell, Andrew Duensing, and Nate Eggert.
• Screenplay by: Brock Bodell.
• Cinematography by: Andrew Duensing.
• Music by: Zak Engel.

Shotgun Commentary: one of the most original takes on a fantasy classic done in the last few years.

Review

Hellcat begins as a really claustrophobic film that reeks of pervy kidnapping of girls at parties but soon switches gears into something quite unexpected. It is this twist that will make fantasy and horror lovers enjoy this feature thoroughly.

The movie begins as the protagonist, Lena (Dakota Gorman), wakes up in a dark trailer. She investigates the space as she attempts to remember what happened to her, but everything is blurry. Suddenly, a voice comes in from a severed fox head on the wall—the voice of her kidnapper, Clive (Todd Terry), who is currently driving the trailer. He informs her that she has been infected with something and he is taking her to a doctor.

This twists the narrative slightly, but there are many more turns ahead before you can say for sure what is really going on. The true-or-false game that the film plays with its audience is thrilling and unexpectedly addictive, as every new clue discovered by Lena makes you rethink everything that has happened before.

Raw talent

The brunt of the acting is taken on by Gorman, who embodies Lena beautifully as a relatable girl who reacts to her situation like all sane people would. Lena has been written with care and talent, putting the real effort into what real people would do in her situation and forgoing a long tradition of brainless female protagonists in horror.

Looking at the craftsmanship of the story itself, it comes as no surprise that such a well-written character would be the one to experience it. What does cause some shock is the fact that this is Bodell’s first feature film both as director and writer. It is always exciting to see so much talent in a filmmaker’s first big project, as it promises great works in the future. I, for one, cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.

Visual poetry

In terms of technical storytelling, Hellcat does not fall behind either. Due to the changes that her body is going through as a result of the infection, Lena finds herself seeing her memories and expectations as close and tangible as she sees the trailer that surrounds her. As a result, the camerawork and editing department have a big chance to shine. The switches in lighting, movement and ambiance from reality to memory or imagination are absolutely breathtaking. They bring another layer of magic to an already fantastic tale.

Additionally, this combination of reality, memory and fiction feeds into the unknowns of the mysterious events that took place before we joined the story. Who is the predator and who is the prey? Is there an actual villain in this story? These are questions you will answer differently a thousand times throughout the movie until the very end when things become absolutely clear. Until then, it is anyone’s game, and it is delightful to try and guess.

All in all, Hellcat is a wonderful fantasy thriller that manages to make the tale of a traditional creature fresh as a peppermint patty in a blizzard. If you are looking for something weird, interesting, and slightly gory, this is it.

For all of you SHUDDER fans, Hellcat will be out on the platform on Friday, 14th of August!

Thanks to SHUDDER for early access!

Advice to take from this movie:

• If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…
• Seems obvious, but… do not believe everything you hear on the radio.
• Sometimes a good old-fashioned explanation can save a lot of time.

What’s your take? Have you watched Hellcat? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀