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The film starts really strong, ushering in a blend of Chinese and Kiwi aesthetics, and offering a premise that's erupting with potential. The opening scene sets the tone for gory, skin-crawling events to follow. The first act easily won me over, and that's because I could connect to the protagonist Wei's struggles as an immigrant trying to fit in (given her childhood trauma and deformity), and possibly make her mark in academics. While both these core conflicts take centerstage, the body horror elements somehow fail to work (from a screenplay perspective), even when the special make-up effects are gnarly and effective. Scenes suddenly lack cohesion and the plausibility of certain events is heavily questionable (for instance, no one noticed the abrupt changes in height and weight?). The final act lands unconvincingly, and the film decides to go for maximum shock value. The performances also fail to evoke greater emotions, and the conclusion feels rather tame. The Substance, this is NOT.

In Grafted, we follow a socially awkward exchange student from China who is trying to fit in with the popular girls while also striving to make her deceased father proud. She's highly intelligent and, just like her father, works on groundbreaking research capable of restoring human tissue.

After a promising opening scene, the movie introduces us to our main characters, consisting primarily of our protagonist, Wei; her aunt, Ling; her cousin, Angela; and Angela's best friends, Jasmine and Eve. There is also a teacher named Paul, who takes a strong interest in Wei's rather unethical work which could become a problem.

Once we get to know the characters, we spend time with Wei as she makes progress in her research while struggling in vain to fit in with Angela and her friends. The film leans into teen drama, unfortunately focusing too much on this aspect rather than her research, which is undoubtedly the more intriguing element that audiences will want to see. The theme of beauty ideals has long been explored through the subgenre of body horror, as seen recently with The Substance. Grafted inevitably draws comparisons to that film, which works to its detriment, as The Substance is far superior. As the movie delves into teen drama, you find yourself waiting for the body horror to take center stage and push boundaries. While it does reach that point eventually, it's not nearly enough.

Without giving away spoilers, I can say that at a certain moment, a transformation occurs, and from that point on, the story starts to fall apart. Things stop making sense, and the film glosses over logical inconsistencies, expecting the audience to overlook them. The pacing also slows down, and moments that should have been impactful fail to pack a punch. The movie occasionally drifts into comedy, which is a fitting addition though. Towards the very end, body horror enthusiasts will finally get something to enjoy, but the film would have been far more effective if it had leaned into those moments more frequently.

Unfortunately, the script demands a lot from the viewer, and if you're not fully on board, it becomes difficult to immerse yourself in the story. The premise had so much more potential, and while the concept was strong, certain narrative choices made it hard to stay engaged. Despite this, Grafted is still a decent watch, and its body horror elements are well-executed, but it could have been much more enjoyable. [5,8/10]

From the very first scene, Grafted, directed by Sasha Rainbow, pulls no punches. The opening is gruesome watching the protagonist's father slice open his mouth with a razor before dying sets a disturbing tone for the film. It's easy to see why the main character is so deeply traumatized by his death, and why she becomes obsessed with continuing his work.

A Descent into Obsession After her father's death, she earns a scholarship to a university in New Zealand and moves in with her aunt. What starts as a quiet and reserved personality soon unravels as she fixates on her father's research--a special formula designed to fix skin deformities and blemishes. The idea itself isn't entirely new in film, but the way Grafted explores it, especially through her psychological unraveling, makes it feel fresh.

Mistreatment and Isolation Her obsession grows more dangerous over time, fueled by the way people treat her, especially her cousin, Angie, who is anything but welcoming. It's no surprise that she starts making bad choices, but once she crosses a certain line, there's no going back. Her mistakes compound, pushing her further into desperation, and eventually, murder.

From Quiet to Psychotic One of the most compelling parts of the film is watching her transformation. She goes from being this shy, socially awkward person to someone completely unhinged. The shift feels gradual yet inevitable, which makes it even more disturbing.

A Flawed but Underrated Film While Grafted isn't a perfect film--the acting, script, and editing could have been stronger--the concept and execution still make it a gripping watch. The psychological depth behind her actions is well thought out, and despite her horrifying choices, you can't help but understand how she got there. The film definitely deserves a higher rating than it has received.

There's some compelling drama in the first half of the movie. Things spiral out of control in an organic, chaotic way.

We get a very strong character development.

It's body horror but nothing too crazy. It could have gone for a little more gore but it's adequate how it is.

This is not an incredible movie by any means. But it has a fair amount of compelling story that is often lacking.

It deserves more than 5. But also doesn't have enough of an "it" factor to be a great movie.

There's some character and situational cliches.

It's a very entertaining movie with some emotional elements.

Ultimately it's a pleasantly average movie. Not sure why I'm writing this review other than 5/10 seeming a little too low.

It's something you can throw on if you need a movie.

Not a whole lot to say. Actors did their best with a terrible script, nonsensical screenplay and an average director. So many plot holes, abundant head scratching moments that pull you out of the experience entirely...

The average-ish performances earned the movie 3 stars, but they are clearly hindered by an amateur writer and a woeful screenplay, not a whole lot makes sense, nor does it seem plausible. And I mean that in a way that it still doesn't make sense or seem plausible when you suspend disbelief, like you have to with most horror movies (although there is nothing scary about this movie, it plays more like a drama-comedy).

The premise is good on paper, and with a proper writer, director and screenplay (and half a million extra $'s), this could have been a solid 6-7/10. Alas, it is nothing more than a below par evening time-killer.

One of the most important, yet somehow still so often neglected elements of storytelling - virtually any storytelling - is empathy. After all, you have probably heard of the Six Deadly Words ("I Don't Care For These People") but are they not really fundamentally about the failure of empathy? Not so much on the side of the viewer that is, but rather because the creator failed to write characters worth emphasizing with - often because they are written as mere tools and lack an inner world you can relate to.

Empathy is exactly what sets this New Zealand thriller apart in its first half. Sasha Rainbow's previous experience consisted of two documentary shorts which both chronicle the lives of the underclass in two cultures very different from hers, and here, she is able to depict the clash between the immigrant protagonist Wei and her second-generation, fully Westernized cousin Angela remarkably well for this kind of film. You can easily understand well why both of them act the way they do, and even the supporting cast also feels a lot more humanized than usual (certainly FAR more so than the cast of The Substance - since the comparisons between the two films are practically inescapable due to the unfortunate release timing, I might as well get it over with now.)

Funnily enough, the 2nd half, which delivers what most of the audience must have come here for, actually felt like a letdown to me in comparison, as it feels much more "on-rails". The performances are still effective and one character's demise is so painfully unfair it cuts through emotionally much more than most horror deaths do. The "grafting" is filmed well enough considering the limitations of low-budget filmmaking, though it would have certainly been more impressive in the pre-Substance world. On the other hand, the plain murder scenes themselves can be quite contrived and often aren't really convincing when compared not just to, say, something relatively recent When Evil Lurks, but also rather older films like Alleluia.

On the whole, though, this is a very admirable debut effort and I believe Sasha Rainbow is going to be the one to watch. I would also like to point out that this is the first movie I have seen in 2025 where I almost immediately looked up the OST after watching the film. To me, it's that good, at times absolutely carrying a scene which would have probably fallen flat otherwise.

I ADORE horror with female leads, especially ones where it deals with deeper issues

But honestly, this movie disappointed me. The message was clear within the first half hour as to what it wanted it's message to be about and I was intrigued but after about 45 minutes, it all just became a bit silly.

The acting felt like overacting and the pacing was just off. I kept finding myself checking when the movie was finally going to be over. I think the idea for this movie is brilliant but this delivery was just 100% not it for me. I kept getting taken out of it and all together, was very unimpressed.

I watched the New Zealand film Grafted (2024) on Shudder. The story follows an exchange student struggling to fit in as she conducts a twisted science experiment-transforming herself by wearing other people's skin. Her classmates soon become her next test subjects.

This film marks the directorial debut of Sasha Rainbow and stars Eden Hart (Sweet Tooth), Jess Hong (3 Body Problem), and Mark Mitchinson (Evil Dead Rise).

In some ways, this reminded me of the Spanish classic The Skin I Live In, but with a much gorier approach. The plot is highly original, and the gore is top-tier. The protagonist feels like a more brutal version of Leatherface. The acting is strong, and the psychological evolution of the main character is well-executed. Some plot points and character decisions are far-fetched, but they don't take away from the film's overall impact. The creativity and sheer brutality of the gore make this a must-see for horror enthusiasts.

In conclusion, Grafted is a bold and unique addition to the horror genre, packed with outstanding gore. I'd give it an 8/10.

The 1950s, a time when color film was still pricey and beyond the reach of the independent producers, was the decade when horror came into its own. There were no tropes and set pieces because everything was new and fresh. Often the scripts were written on the back of a napkin, and the ending was more about how much money was left in the budget than anything else. The good news is that GRAFTED captures this spirit perfectly, the viewer never knows what is going to happen next. The bad news is that a film should be about more than grabbing attention, it really should have a sense of direction. And this one does not. Nice start, but clearly the budget ran out somewhere along the way. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

I believe I have not seen any worse horror in recent few years. It is simply horrendous. Ok, if you are under 15 yrs old then mmmaybe by chance you will not be bored to the bone.

The only decent aspect of the movie was a lead role. At least she tried and was convincing.

The story plot was just idiotic and was not flying close to be coherent. There were huge gaps in the story line, I believe to engage viewers brains to fill in them.

Just to wrap up- i think it is the first time I actually wrote any movie review, just cause I don't want others to wast their money as we did. Why is anyone letting such a thing to go live and risk their reputation.

Sasha Rainbow's Grafted is an exquisite nightmare-one that seeps under your skin and lingers long after the credits roll. A slow-burning descent into obsession, transformation, and the dark cost of belonging, this body horror tale delivers both visceral unease and psychological torment in equal measure.

At the heart of the film is Joyena Sun, whose performance as an awkward yet brilliant student seeking acceptance is nothing short of mesmerizing. Sun captures the raw vulnerability and creeping madness of her character with chilling precision, making every moment of her transformation feel agonizingly real. She is joined by Jess Hong, Eden Hart, and Jared Turner, all of whom bring compelling depth to their roles, but it's Sun who commands the screen with a presence that is both tragic and terrifying.

The film's horror is a slow, methodical unraveling-one that favors atmosphere over jump scares. Rainbow's direction thrives on unease, using lingering shots, unsettling sound design, and grotesquely beautiful practical effects to craft a world where ambition turns monstrous. The body horror elements are disturbingly effective, never gratuitous but always impactful, making each act of "self-improvement" feel like a grim act of self-destruction.

What sets Grafted apart is its exploration of identity, alienation, and the lengths one might go to in order to fit in. It's a horror story not just of the body, but of the soul-an unflinching look at the cost of assimilation and the horrors that come with reshaping oneself to meet impossible expectations.

Disturbing, deeply affecting, and masterfully crafted, Grafted is the kind of horror that latches onto you, festering in your thoughts like an infection you can't shake. Sasha Rainbow has created a modern body horror classic-one that will leave audiences squirming, but utterly unable to look away.

A boring film whose characters lack so much depth that it's hard to care about what happens to them. A corny heroine who is anything but scary and cheap special effects. The script, far from original, draws inspiration from Georges Franju's french masterpiece « Eyes Without a Face » without even coming close to its brilliance. The number of plot inconsistencies and technical errors is staggering, making the whole thing almost painful to watch. Not a single scene is frightening, not a single moment unsettling. Even the music completely misses the point. You can't wait for it to end, and you can't wait to forget it. The director of this total disaster should consider a career change, perhaps opening a butcher shop or a Chinese restaurant.

I did not expect much from the film, but the film surprised me with an engaging screenplay and sound technical work. The background score and Sound design were very original and went very well with the theme. The characters were well written and the logical links were well tied to keep the film Sci-Fi rather than just pointless horror. The way the actors carried the characters were flawless and there was no point in the film I felt it was artificial/acting, the character arc was very organically written and portrayed.

Overall, it's a MUST WATCH, if you are into Gore and Disturbing films with a convincing storyline.

The best part of Grafted is the opening sequence which is genuinely horrifying with excellent special effects. Unfortunately it never lives up to that scene. This movie had 4 or 5 writers and you would think they could assemble something that was original , at least entertaining or even made sense. How many Mean girl movies do we need ? Writers keep recycling the same old themes and using the same tired stereotypes and clichés to populate movies and now it's just boring. The entire midsection of this movie is the same old nonsense about catty females that's been done hundreds of times before. Eventually it doesn't even make sense , as if the writers just decided to throw any flimsy idea into the script. There are huge holes in the plot and the stupidity of it all became tedious and boring. I know this is being touted as Body Horror, but David Cronenberg knows how to make excellent body horror and even a recent film like Substance was not only outstanding but had a great message. This was just a mess.

I didn't know what to expect with this and how it would go. I mean I read the synopsis so got the basics but I really was pleasantly surprised by this film. I don't think I've ever seen a horror film like this. The main character in this is absolutely brilliant and plays such the character so well. Without giving anything away the way this film goes is very dark and shows the lengths she's willing to go to be perfect and beautiful. She doesn't care what and who gets in her way. The other actors are good but aren't the main focus like Wei's character. I really like how it ended too. Definitely worth a watch.

Randomly through this movie, they have this obnoxious dog that won't shut up. Maybe it's because I'm sick in bed or maybe it's because I have migraines. I don't think anyone wants to subject themselves voluntarily to a dog that won't shut up. It's not a once or twice thing this happened several times throughout the movie which made me want to cry. This is physical pain. No the movie probably would've been OK if they left the dog out. The plot seemed really interesting, but honestly, they should give you a warning for things like this. Because one thing they did excel at is providing me with a horrifying migraine.

Going to live with her aunt, an aspiring medical student tries to fit in with her new family and their friends while continuing to advance the studies her father set out to accomplish, but when she's forced to use it before she's ready finds her life upended and is forced to take drastic actions to see her work.

This was an overall enjoyable and highly effective genre outing. One of the stronger aspects of this one is the generally solid setup that offers a fantastic starting point for the type of material present in this one. Going with the idea of her attempting to ingratiate herself within her new family following the death of her father which means attempting to make friends with her cousin and her group of friends at school since they're nearly the same age only failing due to her inherent quirkiness compared to them provides a nice bit of conflict while she tries to help grieve her dead father that brings her there to begin with. Stuck with her antiquated notions and beliefs that conflict with their more modern approaches to life and social upbringing, the way she starts to loosen up and let go of herself so that she can get a fun role reversal as times go on involving the change in personality going forward. As well, there's also plenty to like with the growing realization of what her work is actually accomplishing. The initial stages of her advancement in the class and what's wrong with the deviant teacher show off nicely her desire to finish her father's formula and what it means to her, even going so far as to graphically mutilate herself to show that the whole thing is worthwhile. When the opportunity presents itself to use the formula and attempt to maintain a sense of social order, this one becomes a more overtly traditional genre effort with some gruesome kills, bloody stabbings, close-up surgical sequences, and even some fun stalking scenes along the way which has a generally fun time leading into the solid climax introducing some fantastic body-horror into the equation that's effectively utilized. Overall, these manage to give this one quite a lot to like about it. There are a few issues with this one that hold it back. One of the main pressing factors is the seemingly illogical manner in which she manages to work her work through her friend group without anyone noticing the duplicity of everything happening around them. The physical difference between her and the victim she takes out and assumes control of is quite remarkable, not to mention an obvious height and weight difference that shouldn't fool anyone who knew the victim. Even more apparent is how little she attempts to mimic their style or mannerisms so it just looks even more apparent how lame the duplicity really is and how she attempts to get away with everything. The other issue here is the abrupt and sudden change into turning into a straightforward slasher where the whole point of her going into this type of figure is somewhat obscure which is never really built up to making for a few drawbacks that bring this one down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

This was a film that I saw getting buzz. When I realized that it was on Shudder, I added it to my list of ones to check out for the year. There wasn't a new horror film showing at my local theaters so I decided I would see this as a featured review for Journey with a Cinephile. This works out as a Women in Horror Appreciation film as well. I've also now given it a second watch to see where my thoughts landed in forming my end of year list.

Synopsis: a bright, but socially awkward exchange student takes her craving for popularity to horrifying heights.

We start this off in a giant apartment building. I believe this is in China. Liu (Sam Wang) is living with his daughter, Wei (Mohan Liu). She has school work to complete as he conducts an experiment. He as well as Wei has this mark on their face. He's trying to create a new skin graft where it will grow over the damaged skin. There are disastrous results, leaving him dead.

Wei is now a teenager, going off to college. She is played by Joyena Sun. The college she was accepted to is in New Zealand. Also to note, she was awarded a full scholarship. She will stay with her aunt, Ling (Xiao Hu). Aunty Ling picks her up at the airport and tells her all about her life. Ling's husband ran off, leaving their house in disrepair. It was in the middle of a remodel. Ling lives with her daughter, Angela (Jess Hong). Ling is also a bit rude without necessarily realizing that she is.

These two teens butt heads. Angela is popular where like the synopsis says, Wei is awkward. She doesn't fit in. Aunty Ling does things to make her feel comfortable like having a shrine or getting food she enjoys. Angela shuns everything from her culture. Part of this is to fit in. Angela hangs out with Eve (Eden Hart) who is a classic mean girl. The other is Jasmine (Sepi Toa). She falls in line with the others but is nice to Wei.

This group of young women are all in the same science class. It is taught by Paul (Jared Turner). What we'll learn is that he was a prodigy who is at risk of losing his funding if he can't come up with results soon. He is asking for students who want to be his assistant. Wei shows great promise. She also has the notebook of her father's work. Paul is intrigued by it. He allows her to conduct her experiments and aids in it. He isn't a nice guy though and the pressure to succeed pushes him to do bad things.

The other thread is that Wei upsets Angela and Eden in different ways. What they don't realize is that she will do whatever it takes to become popular, even if it means to become one of them in the process.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that just ahead of watching this, I double checked that this is a 2025 wide release. In doing that, I saw that this is a body horror film so my interest was pique. This also isn't a spoiler because with the opening sequence, it sets that up as well. I will forewarn you, if you don't do well with this subgenre then you might want to avoid this one. It isn't as graphic as others, but it goes places for sure.

Now that I have that set up, this is a variation on the mad scientist film while also being a character study of Wei. There are also developments of the Paul character that I'll come back to. Wei witnessed this horrific event that happened to her father as a little girl. It is now her life's work to complete his research, successfully. There's this other element that when she moves in with her aunt and cousin, she sees how popular Angela is. Despite what people say, as humans we want to fit in. She tries hard, you could probably say too hard, which results in her getting mocked. This is something that I want to instill in my children. I know that they'll need to figure things out for themselves, but just being their own person is important. You will find your niche. Sun does a good job here with being someone who isn't confident when it comes to social situations. She is good with science though. Credit to her performance.

Before moving away from Wei, there was another aspect here that I didn't touch on. Her father started his experiment to help her as well as himself. He told her that he believed that their ancestors did something so they're punished as they both have this same marking on their lower face. That brings in generational trauma or something along these lines. He so badly wants to help her and this kills him in the end. She carries this burden to succeed, which strains her when Paul tries to take credit.

Then to bring back the character of Paul. They're subtle with him. We see this newspaper clipping hung on in his laboratory where it states that he was this child prodigy. It seems like outside of getting this position as a professor, he's stalled careerwise. There's an arrogance that comes with it. He's also abusing his position by sleeping with Eve. We see that he's brilliant, but that craving for more success is wearing on him. What is interesting with him and Wei, they're both pushed to lengths they weren't expecting. They'll do horrible things to succeed.

Let's then delve more into the subgenres that we're getting. First, we have body horror. That is from this opening sequence and I love what they do there. It is horrific. We then move away from it until Wei and Paul start the experiments. There are good things with the sound design. I'd bet that we're getting a combination of practical and CGI effects. I thought this looked good. These aspects work well and it made me cringe at times so that is a perk in its favor. Shifting slightly then, this is also part mad scientist film. Paul would fall more into this category since he's an actual scientist. He's blinded by success and craving more. Wei does fall into this as well though. She is using the experiment for her own nefarious gains, much like her 'mentor'.

I think then I'll finish discussing the film making. The cinematography helps hide the seams of the effects. When we saw the grafts as they settled, I knew it was CGI. There doesn't seem to be another way to do it though. There was CGI blood that I don't love. Did need to say that. This also goes brutally at times which I wasn't expecting. That was a good touch as well. Other than that, the soundtrack fits what was needed.

All that is left then is to finish out with the acting performances. I've already given credit to Sun and Turner for their roles. Hong and Hart are two I need to give credit to as well. There is something that happens though where they need to pretend to be another character and that impressed me. I like Toa as this other young woman who tries to include Wei. She is torn by her friends that she's known for longer and ostracizes herself. Hu works as Aunty Ling. The rest of the cast were fine to round this out for what was needed.

In conclusion, I'm glad that I didn't skip this movie. We are getting an interesting mad scientist/body horror film. It deals with real issues like fitting in and bullying. I thought the acting from Sun and Turner were good. Hong and Hart are also right behind them, with a more difficult role to make work. The effects we get are good. The cinematography, framing and sound design help there as well. With this second watch, I enjoyed it more for the story. There are slight issues that I have with narrative structure. I don't know that this will make my top 10 for the year unless it is on the backside of it.

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Read some reviews on RT.

Negative ones mentioned :

• sub-par acting
• mementum lost halfway through
• messy, aimless plot
• light characterization, leading role in particular
• unjustified gruesomeness

None, none of these points was relevant for me. Quite the opposite.

I have a light stomach for body horror, though I've seen a bunch of that. I don't like when it's overdone, badly done, overlong, complacent, unjustified, or self satisfied. Even sometimes, all of the above (think "The Substance" . Gosh I hate that movie.) Not the case here, for me.

I liked the pacing of the movie. Didn't mind the fact that characters were lightly sketched. They're supposed to be caricatures. Also, it gives way to personal interpretation.

I see this movie as a clever mix of Occidental, college kids horror, with their cardboard stereotypes, and oriental-style, more cryptic horror.

By the way, I found that the cultural clash aspect of the story was more intersting than the physical beauty issues, on which most people seem to focus on.

An unpretentious, sturdy, lovingly crafted horror movie, well worth a watch.

Enjoyed the score, too.