Grimmwood

Review: Grimmwood (Dir. Matt Kiser)

Grimmwood is a flawed but charming microbudget horror film that leans hard into its 1980s influences - and mostly sticks the landing. Written and directed by Matt Kiser, the film tells a classic witch tale that evokes the nostalgic feel of a Halloween storybook come to life. While technical issues like muddy sound and underlit scenes occasionally distract, the film's confident direction, moody zooms, and retro visual flair shine through. The cast gives solid performances, though some acting wavers. Despite its rough edges, Grimmwood is an enjoyable throwback and a valiant effort from a clearly capable filmmaker.

Movie Review: Grimmwood Director: Matt Kiser

Grimmwood is a haunting tale rooted in folklore and personal grief, directed by Matt Kiser. The film follows a depressed journalist and his teenage sister as they investigate a string of mysterious deaths occurring on the anniversary of an accused witch's execution in their hometown. What begins as a local legend soon unfolds into a chilling mystery that forces the siblings to confront both supernatural forces and their own emotional scars.

Kiser crafts an eerie atmosphere steeped in small-town dread and historical guilt. The sibling dynamic adds emotional depth to the horror, offering a blend of investigative tension and familial resilience. With each death, the line between myth and reality blurs, drawing the protagonists - and the audience - deeper into the dark heart of Grimmwood.

A slow-burning thriller with folkloric roots, Grimmwood explores how the past refuses to stay buried - and how truth, once unearthed, can be just as terrifying as any ghost story. I love it.

I saw this at Stranger Days Film Festival and really enjoyed it!

The plot is a great balance of things you would be familiar with in this sub-genre and twists that make it an engaging watch. Taylor Upchurch was great as Jeremy, and Jordyn Tracy as Betty delivered a great performance!

The rest of the cast is a solid mix of funny and relatable side characters that fill out the story nicely.

It looks great and has a high production value, with the bulk of the story taking place in a huge old house that exists in a picturesque location.

Would recommend. Looking forward to seeing what these creators make next!

I was very impressed with this film. The pacing was great there was never a dull moment.

It centers around a tale of a witch, Lydia Grimmwood, who murdered kids in 1918 and would come back 100 years later on Halloween.

The main story takes place in 2018 when murders start to take place leading up to and on Halloween.

It's beautifully filmed and creepy but there's some comedic relief.

Jeremy (Taylor Upchurch) does a great job as the lead luring you into the story.

But to me the standout was Betty (Jordyn Tracy) who is Jeremy's love interest.

Definitely check this out if you're a horror fan!

This was really well made. The story was very captivating and kept my interest. I could see it being one of my regular Halloween movies that I watch every year!

The acting was absolutely amazing and it felt so natural, like real conversations you'd hear in every day life.

The sets, makeup, costuming, and atmosphere were all top tier and drew me in. There were only a few times the audio had some weird moments, but was still enjoyable. The way the story is told reminds me of the stories I'd hear from my family in NC and how my mother would tell me family history.

I hope to see more films of this kind by this group later on!! Good job you guys!