“This will be a haunted house, and you can celebrate with me. Please.”

Story: After a devastatingly brutal pandemic sweeps the world, Pumpkin hopes for a Halloween miracle; someone to celebrate with. But after four years, her hope that someone will answer her radio signal has faded. *sudden radio static*

Scares: The horror of isolation, and invasion.
Splat Factor:  Dead bodies, body parts blown apart, cannibalism.

Subgenre: Post-apocalypse Holiday Horror
Year Released: 2026
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Original.

Trick or Treat?: Hallowarrior is a quick, nasty bit of survival horror with a talented cast, and great premise, and lots of bloody goodness. Our Jack O’ Lantern overfloweth.

Hereditary‘s Milly Shapiro does an amazing job as Pumpkin, channeling hope and despair. She’s a one woman show for a chunk of the film, and Shapiro handles it with a seemingly effortless talent. Pumpkin’s desperate longing for connection and sheltered to naivete drives the narrative; she’s so desperately lonely she gives out her home coordinates. Not a wise move in her situation, but thanks to Shapiro’s performance, you can understand why she did it.

Halloween was Pumpkin’s family’s favorite holiday, so she’s particularly sad this time of year. Naturally, she gets her wish for Trick or Treaters in the worst way possible, as a group of cannibals storm her home. Luckily, a member of the group named Wendy (a quietly intimidating Ajani Russell) isn’t down with their program and helps Pumpkin try to survive. There’s a nice trauma friendship that builds between the two, thanks to the onscreen chemistry between Shapiro and Russell. And believe me, there’s plenty of trauma.

The film’s art direction paints a bleak picture. Everything is dead, the apples she sets up for bobbing are rotted, and skeletal bodies litter her small town. Then there’s the brutally realistic FX, with violence so visceral you can feel it. The pacing is a bit too slow at points, as some scenes feel like they’re stretched to help pad the hour and eighteen minute run time into a feature film. But the second half cranks up with action as Pumpkin and Wendy fight for their lives.

Think of this as a post-apocalyptic You’re Next. Suspense, bloody retribution, and lots of riot girl energy. It’s a vicious little film with a Good For Her ending that’s perfect for morality play horror hounds. Grab some candy and enjoy.

Score: 4 out of 5 pumpkins.