We’ve all had people we love pass away. That’s part of being human. I’m sure we’ve all wanted our loved ones back and would do so if it was in our power, but what if it truly was possible? This is the question at the heart of The Surrender.
Synopsis
When the family patriarch dies, a grieving mother and daughter risk their lives to perform a brutal resurrection ritual and bring him back from the dead.
The Surrender was written and directed by Julia Max. The film stars Colby Minifie (The Boys TV Series), Kate Burton (Big Trouble in Little China), Chelsea Alden (13 Reasons Why TV Series), Vaughn Armstrong (Star Trek Enterprise TV Series), Mia Ellis (Lavender Man), Pete Ploszek (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014), Neil Sandilands (Sweet Tooth TV Series), and Alaina Pollack.
Honestly, The Surrender caught me off guard. I’m not easy to startle or scare when it comes to movies, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t jump during a scene in the first half of The Surrender. That scene has been on edge the rest of the film. The Surrender is huge on atmosphere. Even during some of the quieter scenes, there is a genuine sense that something isn’t right.
Another thing the film has going for it is the tension between daughter and mother Megan and Barbara. Their relationship is strained to say the least and that’s before Megan’s father passes away. There are scenes of them talking that feel emotionally heavy. You can feel deep divide between the two characters. This is a credit to strong performances from Colby Minifie and Kate Burton and realistic writing from Julia Max.
Colby Minifie is fantastic as Megan. You can truly feel the pain she’s going through and her apprehension towards the ritual her mother wants to do. Kate Burton is equally fantastic as Barbara. You can feel the loss she’s feeling after losing her husband of 40 years. You can understand how she would sacrifice everything she has to bring him back. I also want to acknowledge Neil Sandilands who plays The Man, the person who is leading them through the ritual. He doesn’t really have any dialogue other than chanting but he honestly gave me the creeps. If I had one minor complaint it’s that the ending felt a little abrupt. I would have liked a little more to it.
Final Thoughts
The Surrender is a creepy, atmospheric horror film from writer/director Julia Max. The film benefits from excellent performances from Colby Minifie and Kate Burton and a strong sense of dread throughout. Highly recommended.
