![‘Hallowarrior’ Review [Tribeca]](https://www.dreadcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Hallowarrior-1-1-1180x664.png "‘Hallowarrior’ Review [Tribeca]")
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It’s impossible to think about Halloween while you’re wiping away sweat seated in a movie theater in New York City in June, yet somehow, Ben Sottak‘s feature debut, Hallowarrior, had me longing for hot apple cider and the comforting glow of a jack-o’-lantern–or in this case, junk-o’lantern. Equal parts coming-of-age story, post-apocalyptic thriller, and home invasion film, Hallowarrior captures the spirit of the holiday so effectively and with so much affection that I found myself wishing I could live inside its world long after the credits rolled.
The film opens with a distress call from 16-year-old Pumpkin (Milly Shapiro in her first role since 2018’s Hereditary), who believes she’s the last person on Earth after a mysterious plague wiped out humanity four years earlier. Having spent nearly the entirety of her adolescence alone in her decaying home, Pumpkin scavenges the nearby farms for food and supplies while preparing for Halloween, once her family’s favorite holiday. Desperate for connection, she ends her broadcast with an invitation: if anyone can hear her, they’re welcome to attend her Halloween party. When no one answers, Pumpkin begins to lose hope—until three strangers suddenly appear in her home.
Hallowarrior spends much of its first act with Pumpkin alone, a risky choice that pays off thanks to Shapiro’s brilliant performance. She imbues Pumpkin, who hasn’t matured much since the start of the plague, when she was only 12 years old, with innocence and vulnerability, while remaining charismatic enough to hold the screen during long stretches as she rides through the countryside on her bike. I could have happily spent even more time watching her prepare for Halloween and navigate the remnants of the world. Even at her strangest—Pumpkin is hiding a macabre little secret of her own—she’s still relatable and sympathetic.
Once Thalia (Shannyn Sossamon), Royce (AJ Bowen), and Wendy (Ajani Russell) arrive, Hallowarrior makes its shift from a coming-of-age story/meditation on grief to a home invasion film. Sossamon is given the film’s most intriguing role by far as Thalia, the leader of the scavengers. She manages to walk a careful line between maternal warmth and menace, often embodying both qualities in the same scene. Russell also does some amazing work hinting at the sadness just below Wendy’s prickly exterior, making them way more compelling than just another post-apocalyptic survivor hardened by their circumstances.
The performances are bolstered by production design that makes Hallowarrior feel like a throwback to the Halloween movies millennials would have watched on ABC Family or the Disney Channel. Almost the entirety of the film takes place in Pumpkin’s farmhouse in upstate New York, which has a cozy feel despite the obvious rot and peeling wallpaper. The film’s combination of handmade and store-bought Halloween decorations and its commitment to practical effects results in a world that feels fully realized and lived-in.
Unfortunately, Hallowarrior doesn’t always live up to the strength of its performances and atmosphere. The screenplay occasionally relies on familiar dialogue, and some of the more emotional exchanges feel mechanical. While the cast does admirable work elevating the material, there are moments where the script feels slightly undeveloped.
The film is at its weakest when it attempts to broaden its scope. While I loved the design of Thalia’s gang of mutant, drug-addicted scavengers (this is where the makeup and practical effects really shine), their presence never feels as threatening as Thalia herself, who moves through Pumpkin’s home like a hungry panther (once you realize she’s stalking and playing with Pumpkin like prey, you feel sick to your stomach). In fact, I think the addition of the gang distracts from the far more compelling tension that was already brewing inside the farmhouse, a tension that reminded me a lot of Funny Games.
Hallowarrior packs a lot in its swift 80-minute runtime, but it left me wanting more—more time with Pumpkin, more time exploring her world, more opportunities to watch these scavengers wreak havoc and turn on each other. Yet despite some rough edges, Sottak has created a world so spooky and nostalgic that I wasn’t ready to leave when the lights came up. Can Halloween come any faster?
Summary
Equal parts coming-of-age story, post-apocalyptic thriller, and home invasion film, Hallowarrior captures the spirit of Halloween and features a brilliant performance by Milly Shapiro.
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