Manor of Darkness (2025) Review

Manor of Darkness (2025) Review

Struggling to care for her terminally ill mother, Laura reluctantly reconnects with her estranged brother, Chris, for one last score. Their target: a remote English manor rumoured to house a priceless artifact. Disguised as a documentary film crew, Laura, Chris, his girlfriend Lisa, and their cameraman Andy gain access under the pretence of filming a historical feature.

Inside, they encounter Lucas, the manor’s reclusive owner, whose cryptic stories hint at a tragic past and a lingering supernatural force. When the crew stumbles upon a sealed chest in the basement and forces it open, something ancient and malevolent is unleashed—and time itself begins to unravel.

Trapped in a terrifying time loop, the group relives the same day with escalating horrors. As shadowy entities close in and Lucas’s behavior grows more violent, only Laura retains memory of each cycle. With every reset, she inches closer to the truth behind the curse—and the impossible choice it demands.

Writer/Director Blake Ridder’s assured horror flick MANOR OF DARKNESS offers up another variation on the time-loop chiller that Blumberg’s HAPPY DEATH DAY did so well a few years back. Ridder’s film takes a short while to find its groove however once our central foursome enters the titular manor. Ridder’s intension was to have the viewer feel like they are in a nightmare that they cannot wake up from within a location that traps its visitors not just physically but psychologically too. He pulls it off.

For someone that gets sent a variable collection of films to review, I was initially anticipating yet another low-budget flick that would be an ordeal to sit through and was unfairly looking to write it off from the very start. I am pleased to say that was not the case. I warmed quickly to MANOR OF DARKNESS and found myself enjoying the ride it took me on. Not once did the narrative sag, not once did I find my interest drifting away nor wanting to check my phone for messages whilst it played out in the background. All involved should be proud of what they have produced. This a gem of a movie that deserves to break out and by seen by a larger audience.

MANOR OF DARKNESS is well-paced and, given the time-loop scenario, never feels repetitive, it remains fresh and assured. Kim Spearman as Laura is the main character and she makes for a solid and confident lead. Stuart Wolfe-Murray also stands out as Lucas, the owner of the manor, and the rest of the small cast make for great support. The cast are helped in no small part by a script that afford both back-stories and full-blooded characterisations so that each person feels real. I felt like I was watching a classic episode of Seventies TV series HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR, low on budget but big on ideas that are well executed. There is the odd duff line delivery early in the film but otherwise this came as a very welcome and very pleasant surprise, and I warmly recommend it.

Watch the trailer here.

Manor Of Darkness will be coming to Digital platforms in the US from December 9