The horror genre has warned plenty of times that yes, dead is better. Heck, that's the tagline for Pet Sematary, for instance. Writer/director Julia Max's feature debut, The Surrender, plays with this familiar concept of reviving a deceased loved one. Yet, though the Shudder original traffics in well-worn genre territory, it stands out for its eerie atmosphere and rich characterization. Max is definitely a director to watch.
The film stars Colby Minifie as daughter Megan and Kate Burton as her mother Barbara. The family's patriarch, Robert (Vaughn Armstrong), is on his deathbed. This puts a strain on both Megan and Barbara, who spend every moment by her husband's side. Her stress reaches the point that she yanks out her hair. Meanwhile, Megan wonders what will happen to the grant money her father promised to give her to assist underprivileged youth. Megan dreads the loss of that earmarked money should her father pass. This puts her at odds with Barbara, who denies Megan's request to access that money. Barbara has much more on her mind, like trying to save her ailing husband, rightfully so.
Though the film opens with a resurrected Robert eating a corpse, before it loops back in time to show how the narrative arrived at that point, Max doesn't rush the horror. Instead, she spends at least half the movie establishing Barbara and Megan's strained relationship. The characterization is one of the film's strongest aspects. We get to know this mother and daughter quite well, including the impact Robert's failing health has on each of them. The situation causes them to frequently lash out at each other. This film's drama is a credit to the polished script. Robert's waning health and eventual passing force the characters to respond and act.
Once Robert dies, Barbara makes a last-ditch effort to save him, calling on the power of a mysterious, unnamed man (Neil Sandilands) to conduct a ritual to bring him back to life. That's when the film truly leans into the horror and gore. There are a few nasty scenes in this one. Of course, the ritual doesn't go well and involves brutal sacrifices. Barbara, Megan, and the man do reach another plane. There, they encounter Robert, but he's a soulless fiend who feeds on flesh.
Megan and Barbara try their best to reach Robert and bring him back to the land of the living, but this proves an insurmountable task. Megan spends the rest of the film struggling to figure out the rest of the ritual to save herself, even if it means mutilating herself and sacrificing her own blood to do so. Meanwhile, creepy, soulless bodies linger outside the circle of protection, ready to devour her. During this entire harrowing process, Megan continually has flashbacks about her dad, allowing her to process the reality of her parents, including the positives and negatives, as well as the imperfections.
Overall, Max crafted an assured debut that's atmospheric, disquieting, and bloody. The film also takes its time letting the characterization develop, showcasing strong performances by Burton and Minifie in the process. Though the film has familiar, otherworldly elements, it anchors itself in its exploration of grief, the challenges of caring for an ailing loved one, and the inevitability of death.
The Surrender releases on Shudder on Friday, May 23, 2025.