Horror Movie Review: Hallowarrior (2026)

Written, directed, and produced by Ben Sottak, Hallowarrior is a home invasion post-apocalyptic horror/thriller blended with a ‘coming of age’ story that fits the season so well, you’ll still be able to see the jack-o’-lantern glow long after the film has ended.

Alas, while it is suitably ‘Halloweeny’, there’s very little substance elsewhere meaning it probably won’t live too long in the memory of many. Even with an excellent performance by Milly Shapiro.

She plays Pumpkin, a 16-year-old girl who has survived for years on her own, following a mysterious plague that wiped out humanity. As far as she is concerned, she is the last person alive. We’re introduced to her as she sends out a distress call. Halloween is approaching, her favourite holiday, and she is desperate for company. Her supplies are running out, and with it, her hope.

That is until three strangers appear in her house. Pumpkin is wary, but pleased to see people, but all is not as it seems. For Pumpkin to survive she’s going to have to tap into a part of her personality that comes from the nickname her parents gave her. She must become the Hallowarrior.

If there’s one thing I love about Hallowarrior more than anything else, it is how much it looks and feels like a Halloween flick. Even in a post-apocalyptic world, it has an autumnal look, and the interior of Pumpkin’s house is decorated in garish, haunted house fashion. It’s totally believable that at any stage a crowd of young trick or treaters could be at the door, and it’s fun to see all the characters embrace it.

None more so than Pumpkin, who is so likable. Milly Shapiro does a fantastic job of capturing the hardiness of a survivor with the innocence of a child. She is vulnerable and needs looking after but has had no one to rely on and that side of her manifests in an interesting way. She has secrets and that makes her far more compelling to watch. You’ll ask yourself; would you do anything different in her situation? The early portion of the film, where we spend time with Pumpkin as she prepares for Halloween is great.

Alas, it’s when the film switches tone that it starts to lose its way. Introducing Thalia (Shannyn Sossamon), Royce (AJ Bowen), and Wendy (Ajani Russell) and turning into a home invasion horror. Not at first though, as the trio play up to Pumpkin’s innocence, in particular, the character of Thalia, who has a maternal warmth about her. Yet, as a character, she’s truly at her best when her more menacing side is unleashed. She is the leader of a group of scavengers, and they’re used to taking what they wants.

Pumpkin doesn’t have to fight them off alone though as Wendy, once part of Thalia’s gang, teams up with her to stop the invaders.

It’s simply not as much fun as it could have been. I had images of a ‘Home Alone’ style defence, but utilising the Halloween season and the post-apocalyptic world. Unfortunately, what we get is far more basic and lacking memorability. It never feels like the film manages to get into a higher gear and the writing means there’s very little reason to care about Pumpkin and Wendy’s relationship. In fact, it all feels quite rushed and even more basic, especially when it comes to dialogue and the look of some of the more ‘monstrous’ members of Thalia’s gang.

It’s a film that could have done with a little less jammed in and a bit longer of a runtime (80 minutes) so the important parts had time to breathe. I don’t think it’s a bad film, it looks great and the acting is top tier, but I just came away feeling like I wanted so much more.