Red Riding
The brief
Craig Conway's folk horror debut leans hard into atmospheric dread, trading jump scares for creeping unease as Red navigates her grandmother's decaying Scottish manor. The film builds tension through weathered stone walls and fog-drenched moors, but stumbles when it tries to balance family trauma with supernatural terror. Ian Whyte brings genuine menace as the lurking threat, though the script never quite decides if it wants to be psychological thriller or monster movie. Perfect for fans of The Witch or Gretel & Hansel who don't mind uneven pacing when the mood hits right.
The verdict
If you crave slow-burn atmospheric horror that prioritizes creeping dread over cheap thrills, this moody Scottish folk horror will scratch that itch perfectly. If you need tight pacing and clear genre focus, the uneven script and indecisive tone will likely frustrate you.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who appreciate slow-burn atmosphere
- ⚠️ Avoid with those sensitive to child endangerment
Heads up
- Drug overdose (opening trauma) (brief)
- Missing children subplot (moderate)
- Monster/wolf violence (moderate)
- Family abandonment themes (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Craig Conway
- Cast
- Ian Whyte, Bill Fellows, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, Robert Cavanah, Jack McEvoy, Lynsey Beauchamp, Thomas Mugglestone
Official synopsis
After her mother's overdose, teen Red Riding moves from London to her estranged grandmother's Scottish estate, where dark family secrets, missing children, and a monstrous wolf blur reality, forcing her to fight for survival.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Wolf and the Lamb (2026)
Both explore predatory threats through wolf imagery and family survival.
