Capture (2026) Review

Capture (2026) Review

Blending haunted-object horror, possession, and paranormal suspense, CAPTURE explores the terrifying consequences of revisiting the past and the deadly cost of being seen through the wrong lens. The film stars Kaitlyn Lunardi (The North Witch), Cedric Gegel (The Haunted Forest), and Chris Cimperman (First Contact).

Bruce Wemple is known for his work in the horror and science fiction genres as a director, producer, and writer. Working outside the traditional studio system, Wemple has developed a reputation for bold ideas, practical effects, and sustained dread, collaborating frequently with a close-knit creative team. His previous features, also released by Uncork’d Entertainment, include The Retreat, Monstrous, Dawn of the Beast, and The North Witch.

After inheriting her parents’ long-abandoned house, Abby uncovers a mysterious thirty-year-old camcorder hidden among a collection of videotapes. As she reviews the footage, she begins to unravel horrifying secrets tied to her family’s past—and a terrifying truth about the camera itself: anyone it records doesn’t just relive the past, they die. What begins as a disturbing discovery soon becomes a desperate fight for survival as the camcorder’s supernatural power refuses to stay buried.

Capture is very much what you would call a “slow burn” horror film. It opens with a brief glimpse of what lies ahead, as a young couple stumble across an isolated house—the very same property that Abby, the film’s main character, will soon inherit. Their disturbing fate sets the tone early on, giving the audience a hint that something is deeply wrong with the place. After this chilling introduction, however, the film deliberately holds back, allowing the tension to simmer rather than immediately unleashing its scares.

For much of the first half, the film focuses on atmosphere and mystery rather than outright horror. Abby arrives in town after inheriting the house once owned by her biological parents, Steve and Cameron, whom she barely knew because she grew up in foster care. As she begins to settle into her new home, she discovers a collection of old camcorder recordings. Watching them gradually reveals the disturbing history of the house and the terrible events connected to her family. This slow drip of information forms the backbone of the narrative and steadily builds unease as Abby learns more about what really happened there.

Admittedly, the film’s pacing in the early stages may test the patience of some viewers. The tension occasionally dips as the story takes its time establishing the setting and Abby’s background. However, once the film reaches the halfway mark, it shifts gear dramatically. The scares begin to arrive far more frequently, many of them built around sudden, loud “boo” moments that continue almost relentlessly through to the final scenes. While some may find this reliance on jump scares a little predictable, the second half certainly delivers the kind of intensity horror fans expect.

One aspect that slightly strains credibility from a modern perspective is the lack of curiosity surrounding the house’s history. In an age where most people would immediately search an unfamiliar address online, it feels somewhat odd that Abby does not initially do the same. Instead, she only resorts to a Google search once strange events have already begun—by which time it is far too late. Of course, if she had checked earlier, the story might have ended before it even began.

Abby’s experience is also made more unsettling by the reaction of the local townspeople, who treat her with suspicion and open hostility, particularly during a tense encounter at the local bar. Their behaviour adds another layer of unease, suggesting that the community may know far more about the house than they are willing to admit.

Like many haunted house stories, the film follows a familiar horror tradition: no matter how dangerous things become, the protagonist refuses to leave. This trope has been seen many times before in films such as The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist, and Capture does little to challenge it. Nevertheless, the film manages to maintain interest through its use of found-footage-style recordings and its gradual revelation of the house’s dark past.

There are also moments that evoke the unsettling atmosphere of Ringu and its American counterpart The Ring, particularly in the way recorded media becomes a conduit for uncovering supernatural events.

In the end, Capture may not reinvent the haunted house genre, but it offers an engaging enough ride for fans willing to be patient with its slow start. While the first half could have benefited from tighter pacing, the film redeems itself with a far more intense and frightening second half. For viewers who enjoy gradually unfolding mysteries and a steady stream of jump scares, Capture provides plenty to keep them watching—right up until its unsettling conclusion.

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