The Surrender Review – Raising the Dead, Ruining Dinner, and Other Family Traditions

TL;DR: The Surrender is a moody, artsy horror flick about grief, ghosts, and one very committed occult enthusiast. It looks killer, but the villain vibes are more “creepy uncle” than “criminal icon.” Great for fans of slow-burn dread and family dysfunction—less so for those craving a stylish, high-stakes descent into evil.

CMS: 58/100 – Root-worthy? Kinda. Legendary? Not quite. Creepy? Absolutely.

The Surrender—a film that dares to ask, “What if your mum tried to resurrect your dead dad using a bloke who looks like he moonlights as a taxidermist?” Directed by Julia Max, this 2025 horror-drama is less about the supernatural and more about the supernaturally awkward dynamics of a family that makes the Addams look like the Waltons.

Plot Summary

Our tale begins with Megan (Colby Minifie), who returns home to find her mother, Barbara (Kate Burton), behaving like she's auditioning for The Exorcist. Dad's dead, but Barbara isn't ready to let go. Enter a mysterious stranger (Neil Sandilands) who promises to bring dear old dad back from the grave through a series of rituals that make a voodoo ceremony look like a tea party. 

Performances

Minifie portrays Megan with the kind of wide-eyed panic usually reserved for people who've just realized they've sent a text to the wrong person. Burton's Barbara is a masterclass in maternal madness, oscillating between grief-stricken widow and occult enthusiast with unsettling ease. 

Themes and Tone

The Surrender delves into the complexities of grief, family, and the lengths one might go to avoid saying goodbye. It's like Hereditary met Gilmore Girls in a dark alley and decided to raise a zombie together. The film doesn't shy away from the grotesque, offering scenes that are as emotionally raw as they are visually jarring. 

Final Thoughts

If you're a fan of horror that doesn't just rely on jump scares but instead crawls under your skin and sets up camp, The Surrender is your ticket to a night of delightful discomfort. It's a film that reminds us that sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones we call family.

🧨 Criminal Mastermind Score (CMS) 58/100

It summoned spirits, stirred family trauma, and definitely ruined brunch. But it still felt like watching necromancy performed by a drama club on expired Red Bull.

CMS Breakdown

Villain Charisma – 11/20

• The mysterious stranger has that cryptkeeper chic going on—creepy, yes, but not exactly the kind of villain you’d follow into the underworld. Still, he brings enough cult leader energy to make you almost say “Hail Dad.”

Scheme Complexity – 12/20

• A resurrection plot wrapped in grief and soaked in ritual? That’s decent criminal ambition. Unfortunately, it unravels faster than a budget ouija board session during a thunderstorm.

Chaos Quotient – 9/20

• There’s dread, there’s gore, there’s a sense that someone’s definitely going to get disemboweled with knitting needles. But it’s all a bit restrained—like the horror equivalent of a polite mugging.

Aesthetic & Atmosphere – 18/20

• Now we’re talking. Visually, this thing slaps harder than a haunted oil painting. Moody lighting, uncanny performances, and a vibe that screams “family séance with extra trauma.”

Rootability of Evil – 8/20

• You won’t be cheering for the villain, per se, but you will admire it's commitment to the bit. Its like if Rasputin hosted a grief counseling seminar—awkward, intense, and slightly flammable.

  
  

Final Verdict

The Surrender takes grief and turns it into a ghost story with teeth. It’s creepy, artful, and occasionally brilliant—just not criminal enough for full villain worship. Great for those nights when you want emotional damage with a side of dark arts.

Perfect for

Plotting a séance in your parents’ basement while pretending you’re over your ex.

Avoid if

You prefer your evil charismatic, stylish, and wielding more than just emotional manipulation and candles.