The Cycle (2026)

 The Cycle is best seen without being spolied. That's what I read about it and That's how I proceeded.

The film premiered at Fantastic Fest this September but being a SHUDDER production it went to streaming end of October. Should've gone to more genre fests and would've loved to see it on the big screen. It's shot widescreen (2.39.1) by Kevin Stewart, good job especially on the dark and desaturated look that adds to the atmosphere. I was not so impressed by the score, which works but wanted something more panache. The song Silver Lady by David Soul (1977), which I heard for teh 1st time here, is a good pun and clue !

Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page in the Daredevil series) is Meg, a forensic expert, she's called in on a murder that includes her disppareared father 36 years ago. Jeffrey Donovan (Dodd Gerhardt in season two of Fargo series) is the cop who investigates.

Enough plot. The 1st act fely a bit like Longlegs (via The Silence of the Lambs)), mixed with Fincher's color desaturations from Se7en to Mindhunter, but you can feel there's something more.

Tightly directed and co-written by Jordan Downey, a name to follow up  in the new genre upcoming masteros to be (hopefully!), from already established Ari Aster, Ti West, Osgood Perkins to Damian McCarthy,  Zach Cregger, Tilman Singer,  Charlie Polinger, Coralie Fargeat,  James Ashcroft and the youngest prodigy, Backrooms' Kane Parsons )!

Gruesome prostethic and practical effects, very well done, kudos to Patrick Magee, the special effects supervisor and key make up effects artist (winks to Rick Baker and Rob Bottin !) in a genre that's been overdone to death and you can't see something original coming out of it.

A special mention to actor  David Myers Gregory as Peter Stump. 

For those who want to get spoliers here's a list of those movies ;) -I suggest to read it and add The Cycle here after you've seen it 1st, for me it makes the top Ten (not of that particular list tho I agrree with the number 1;). 

3 1/2 out of 5 / 7 out of 10 ! -even going to a bigger rating, but the pacing is too slow and other weakneess,a s I mentionerd the score...