The Dreadful, the latest from writer-director Natasha Kermani, brings together Game of Thrones alums Sophie Turner and Kit Harington for a brooding medieval horror set against the windswept coasts of 15th-century England. On paper, the premise is rich with Gothic potential: isolation, grief, and madness bubbling beneath a pious façade. Yet despite its atmospheric visuals and star power, The Dreadful struggles to ignite anything beyond mild curiosity, settling into a rhythm that’s more tedious than terrifying.
Story: A Slow Descent Without True Dread
The film follows Anne (Turner), a devout and impoverished woman living with her domineering mother-in-law Morwen (Marcia Gay Harden), awaiting the return of her husband Seamus from war. When his comrade Jago (Harington) arrives with news of Seamus’ death, tensions rise. As grief turns to suspicion, Morwen descends into violent desperation—secretly murdering stranded survivors for their valuables while enforcing rigid piety on Anne. Meanwhile, a fragile bond forms between Anne and Jago, reigniting old tensions rooted in their shared past.
Interwoven with ghostly visions of a faceless armored knight, the narrative hints at deeper mythological layers and wartime trauma. But rather than deepen the psychological or supernatural stakes, The Dreadful lingers too long in mood without meaning. It teases themes of female autonomy, religious hypocrisy, and wartime betrayal, but never commits—leaving its commentary surface-level and its scares underwhelming.
Performances: Talent Without Conviction
Turner delivers a restrained performance, capturing Anne’s quiet resilience with dignity, though the script gives her little emotional range to explore. Harington is solid but underused, while Harden chews the scenery as the increasingly unhinged Morwen—though her transformation into a folk-horror crone feels more theatrical than believable. The romantic tension between Turner and Harington lacks chemistry, a fact even Turner acknowledged, calling their intimate scenes “vile.” The trio’s history as childhood friends is mentioned but never explored with depth, weakening the emotional core.
Behind the Lens: Style Over Substance
Kermani crafts a visually arresting film—lush forests, misty shores, and haunting tableaus abound. The cinematography evokes classic folk horror, but the direction lacks urgency. Pacing drags, and the editing favors lingering shots over narrative momentum. While the score and sound design build a foreboding ambiance, they can’t compensate for hollow plotting and underdeveloped themes. Like many atmospheric horror films, The Dreadful leans on vibe over vision—without a compelling message, it ultimately feels incomplete.
Final Verdict: A Missed Opportunity
The Dreadful is not a disaster, but it’s far from essential. It’s a film with striking visuals and a compelling setup that fails to deliver on its psychological or horror potential. A Game of Thrones reunion can only carry so much weight—without a strong script or emotional payoff, even charisma can’t save it. Ultimately, The Dreadful is a half-baked brew: chilling to look at, but forgettable to experience.
The Dreadful is available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
