Borley Rectory: The Awakening (2025) Review
Borley Rectory: The Awakening (2025) Review
Based on the allegedly true of the most haunted house in England. In 1900, the young Reverend Henry Bull and his sister Kitty have taken over duties of the family home. They start to encounter terrifying paranormal activity. To protect their mother and sisters from the demonic intrusion they must call upon the services a family friend who will help discover the origins of the ghosts that haunt Borley Rectory.
The film brings together a stellar cast led by legendary actor Julian Glover, known for his iconic roles in FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, and STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. He is joined by Patsy Kensit, acclaimed for her performances in LETHAL WEAPON 2 and ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS.
The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Mark Wingett (QUADROPHENIA, THE BILL), Vicki Michelle (’ALLO ‘ALLO, BERMONDSEY TALES), and Helen Lederer (ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS) and Simon Phillips (FUBAR, THE WITCHER). Newcomers Jess Inchbald, Corneille Dion Williams, Charlotte Luxford, Jenna Wilson, and Lora Hristova join the cast, adding their own compelling performances to the mix.
BORLEY RECTORY: THE AWAKENING is third instalment in the hit horror film franchise – following on from both 2019’s THE HAUNTING OF BORLEY RECTORY and 2021’s THE GHOST OF BORLEY RECTORY – and its marketing blurb sells it is as a chilling supernatural horror based on the true events of the most haunted house in England: Borley Rectory and bugger me, and I was not expecting this, it might not be ‘chilling’ but it is surprisingly good!
Filmmaker Steven M. Smith, whose previous work also includes the recent release SWEENEY TODD: SLICE & DICE, takes the helm as director and the result is a solid supernatural offering with a cast that is crammed with a few familiar faces as well an actor favourite of mine, Simon Phillips who gets a meatier and more substantial role for his acting talent. It is fluid throughout and builds up the tension throughout never tempering off, as say the latest THE CONJURING movie does, when the final confrontation happens. Effective and well-developed this is by no means scary, but it otherwise does deliver the goods when it comes to providing solid entertainment.
BORLEY RECTORY: THE AWAKENING available for digital release in the USA on October 7th, followed by a UK DVD and digital release on October 13th.
Watch the trailer here:
