Review published 26th September 2026
Watch the official trailer.
The Story
A group of friends have just spent the evening together playing a bizarre board game known as Grin. One of the players expresses concern about the game’s rules, particularly the claim that those who have committed sins will face terrifying consequences. Naturally, the others dismiss her fears, reminding her that it is only a game. Unfortunately, they could not be more wrong. Before long, a demonic entity appears, and the evening ends in horrifying fashion.
Following the opening sequence, viewers are introduced to Eva (Gareth Tidball), who is returning home for a family reunion. It has been a long time since Eva last visited her childhood home, and it quickly becomes clear that there are unresolved tensions and painful memories tied to her past. Part of the reunion involves meeting her mother’s new partner, Lucian, who introduces the family to a strange board game he claims to have found online. The game, known as Grin, appears simple enough. Players place their hands on the board, write down their names, and allow the game to choose who participates.
However, Eva immediately feels uneasy and refuses to continue playing. Soon afterwards, family members begin disappearing one by one. Faced with an increasingly terrifying situation, Eva begins to suspect the game has summoned a demonic entity that targets those burdened by sin. As the body count rises, Eva must confront both the horrors of the present and the secrets of her past if she hopes to survive.
Lawrence Fowler’s New Nightmare
Grin is a horror film directed by Lawrence Fowler, whose previous works include The Jack in the Box (2019), The Ghost Within (2023), Rob1n (2025), and the subsequent Jack in the Box sequels. One thing I continue to admire about Fowler is his willingness to create new villains rather than relying solely on established horror icons. With Grin, he once again introduces audiences to an original supernatural threat and demonstrates a growing confidence as a filmmaker. While the film may not break new ground for the genre, it is refreshing to see Fowler tackling a completely different type of antagonist instead of revisiting familiar territory.
The Monster Is The Real Star
Without question, the film’s greatest strength is its central creature. Although the board game serves as the catalyst for the story, the entity quickly becomes the main attraction. The game itself is surprisingly simple, offering little in the way of strategy or complexity. Players essentially activate the supernatural threat simply by participating, making the board game more of a gateway than a character in its own right. Fortunately, the creature largely justifies that simplicity. Its design is genuinely impressive, featuring a monstrous appearance that immediately stands out. More importantly, Fowler wisely relies on body language and movement rather than excessive visual effects. The entity often lurks silently in dark corners, watching its victims before striking, creating some of the strongest moments in the film. While I wouldn’t place it alongside iconic horror villains such as Michael Myers or Art the Clown, it nevertheless feels memorable enough to support future sequels should the opportunity arise.
Gore Over Genuine Fear
When it comes to scares, Grin is more creepy than genuinely frightening. The atmosphere works well, particularly thanks to the film’s heavy use of darkness and nighttime settings. Several scenes successfully build anticipation as viewers wait for the creature to emerge from the shadows. However, I found the film’s gore far more memorable than its scares. It certainly feels as though Fowler is pushing the boundaries of violence more than in his previous projects. The kills are often gruesome and clearly designed to satisfy horror fans who enjoy practical carnage and brutal deaths. That said, there are plenty of films that take the gore much further. While the violence is effective, it never quite becomes shocking enough to elevate Grin into the upper tier of modern horror. Still, fans of Fowler’s previous work and horror enthusiasts in general will likely appreciate the effort.
Weak Characters And Predictable Twists
Unfortunately, the human element of the story proves far less effective than the monster. Eva functions adequately as the film’s protagonist, but I never found her especially compelling. Much of her character revolves around a mysterious and tragic past, yet many of the revelations surrounding her feel predictable long before they arrive. In fact, several of the film’s major twists and story reveals are surprisingly easy to identify during the opening act. Rather than generating suspense, many developments unfold exactly as expected. The supporting characters fare little better. Dialogue often feels reminiscent of a daytime soap opera, with performances varying in quality throughout the cast. While nobody is outright terrible, few of the characters leave a lasting impression. As a result, I frequently found myself more invested in the creature’s next appearance than anything the human characters were doing.
A Backstory That Never Fully Lands
The film eventually provides answers regarding the entity’s origins and motivations. While I appreciated receiving an explanation, I found the backstory considerably less interesting than the mystery surrounding the creature. The mythology is complete enough to answer the main questions, but the reveal lacks the impact needed to make it truly memorable. Ironically, I found myself wishing the film had held some of its cards closer to its chest. Leaving a little more mystery surrounding the entity may have strengthened its presence and provided a more intriguing foundation for future installments. The ending also hints at further stories to come, which will likely feel familiar to anyone who has followed Fowler’s previous franchises.
Atmosphere And Visual Style
One area where Grin consistently succeeds is its atmosphere. The film embraces darkness throughout much of its runtime, creating a suitably unsettling tone that complements the creature perfectly. Fowler’s camera work is also strong, with several sequences making excellent use of shadows, negative space, and sudden reveals. One particularly effective approach involves allowing the creature to quietly linger in the background before the audience fully notices it. These moments often proved more effective than the film’s larger scares and demonstrated Fowler’s growing confidence behind the camera.
Final Thoughts
Grin is a simple but effective horror film that succeeds largely because of its creature, atmosphere, and commitment to delivering gruesome kills. The board-game premise is interesting, even if the game itself ultimately serves as little more than a mechanism for unleashing the monster. Fortunately, the creature’s design, physical presence, and stalking behaviour help compensate for some of the film’s weaker areas. Unfortunately, those weaker areas are significant. The characters are largely forgettable, the dialogue can feel overly melodramatic, and many of the film’s twists are so predictable that their impact is largely lost. The creature’s backstory also fails to reach the same standard as its design, while the finale continues beyond what feels like a natural ending point. Even so, horror fans should still find plenty to enjoy. Lawrence Fowler continues to show growth as a filmmaker, and it’s encouraging to see him creating new monsters and pushing himself into darker and more violent territory. While Grin may not be the director’s masterpiece, it is another step forward for a filmmaker who clearly has a passion for horror and a bright future within the genre.
Grin (2026) will be Available on Digital & DVD from October 7th thanks to Eagle Entertainment!
About the Reviewer
Peter Walkden
Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.
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