Samara Weaving has quickly become one of the most popular actresses working today, along with being a certified scream queen after starring in hits like Ready or Not and The Babysitter. But there’s a chance you might have missed out on her 2024 action horror film Azrael, which would be a shame because it’s intense and scary. It is currently streaming on Hulu.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world after the Rapture of humankind, Azrael (Weaving) is one of the few survivors along with members of a mute cult of zealots. Believing the act of speech to be a sin, these cult members take Azrael into captivity because of her refusal to cut out her vocal cords in accordance with their beliefs.
But Azrael manages to escape, and the movie follows her harrowing journey through the forest as she tries to outrun the people after her along with the sinister Burned Ones, demonic creatures plaguing those left behind on Earth.
There’s a lot to like about Azrael, most notably Weaving’s performance and the movie’s artistic choice to forgo most dialogue. The chase sequences in particular, are exceptional. I always love a good chase sequence in my horror movies and Azrael has them in spades. They’re tense and well-choreographed. It’s also a great pick for anyone who enjoys folk horror.
Viewers who dislike walking away with lingering questions might find Azrael a little wanting, but if you can appreciate the story’s ambiguous nature and the focus the character-driven storytelling then you’ll enjoy the ride. It helps to have a capable actress like Weaving taking the helm that it makes it easy to overlook the movie’s few shortcomings.
Weaving will also soon star in the highly-anticipated Ready or Not sequel, which has been titled Ready or Not: Here I Come. Recently, it was announced that the sequel would include other cast members like Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Cronenberg, and more.
Azrael is now streaming on Hulu, Shudder, and AMC+.
