Dark Distortion (2026) Review
Dark Distortion (2026) Review
When a group of adult models turn to theft for a quick score, they unknowingly steal a camcorder containing something far more dangerous than incriminating footage — the restless spirit of a murdered child. As the tape reveals disturbing truths and reality begins to fracture, the group is pulled into a spiral of violence, possession, and moral decay with no escape from the camera’s gaze.
Starring April Hartman (Victoria), Ethan Vaughan (Manny), Jada Jay (Nina), Joe Walker (Jeremy), Miles Stoner (Red), and Kionna Williams (Charlotte), Dark Distortion is a relentless descent into cursed media, haunted technology, and urban supernatural horror. Drawing comparisons to The Ring, V/H/S, and Archive 81, the film reimagines found footage through a modern lens of social influence and digital obsession.
There are a couple of genuinely neat murder set pieces. The standout is the scene where the boy’s spirit materializes as a massive projection before his intended victim — a visually inventive moment that shows real flair. The climax borrows heavily from Friday the 13th, right down to the “kill them, mummy”–style dialogue, while the poster art seems to channel Scream, swapping high-schoolers for adult entertainers.
Jeremy (played by Joe Walker) has solid screen presence, particularly in scenes where he stalks his victims with a camcorder, documenting their impending demise.
Overall, it’s a mixed bag. Some sequences demonstrate that horror is clearly Herrera’s forte, especially when supernatural elements take center stage. However, the dramatic subplots among the adult entertainers fizzle out and grow dull. If Herrera could inject the same invention and zest found in his horror visuals into the dialogue and character dynamics, this might have been a winner.
