The Dreadful
"The Dreadful (2026)" is an upcoming Gothic horror film directed by Natasha Kermani, starring Sophie Turner and Kit Harington. Set in medieval England during the War of the Roses, the film follows Anne and her domineering mother-in-law, Morwen, as they struggle for survival. The narrative takes a dark turn with the return of Jago, a childhood friend, bringing news of Anne's husband's death and setting off a chain of unsettling events. The movie is described as a psychological thriller that delves into themes of fear, desire, regret, and a struggle for liberation against controlling forces. With an R-rating for violence, bloody images, and a sexual reference, it is targeted towards a mature audience. Prospective viewers should anticipate a grim atmosphere and intense psychological and physical confrontations.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains significant violence and bloody imagery, contributing to its R-rating. The plot involves characters resorting to murder for survival and menacing supernatural threats. The violence is described as brutal and psychologically intense.
Morwen, Anne's mother-in-law, is depicted 'crazily murdering anyone in sight,' including a 'man of the cloth,' to pillage belongings for survival. Anne and Morwen are also shown 'murdering travelers in order to steal their money, clothes, and anything else of value.' Additionally, a 'spectral armored knight on a white horse' is mentioned, who has an 'aptitude for riding around the countryside walloping off people's heads.'
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe movie includes explicit references to sexual content and romantic intimacy, evidenced by its R-rating which specifically cites 'a sexual reference,' and discussions by the cast regarding intimate scenes.
The R-rating for 'The Dreadful (2026)' includes 'a sexual reference.' The script for the film explicitly contains 'sex and kissing' scenes between Anne (Sophie Turner) and Jago (Kit Harington). Both Sophie Turner and Kit Harington have spoken publicly about the awkwardness of filming 'sex, kiss, sex' scenes, with Turner recalling a moment of 'retching' after their first kissing scene.
Profanity
HighThe film is expected to contain strong language, as confirmed by direct quotes from the cast discussing the script's content.
During a discussion about the intimate scenes, Sophie Turner reportedly told Kit Harington, 'Yeah, I'd love to, but this is going to be really fucking weird, Soph,' confirming the use of strong profanity in relation to the film's content.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film is a Gothic horror and psychological thriller designed to evoke dread and discomfort. It features an unnerving atmosphere, psychological torment, and life-threatening situations.
The movie is characterized by an 'impending sense of doom' and 'emotional claustrophobia,' aiming for 'atmosphere-first dread' rather than mere jump scares. Morwen's 'unhinged' behavior, including murdering travelers, contributes significantly to the film's intensity and disturbing nature. A 'mysterious knight' poses a significant threat, further enhancing the film's scary elements.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumSupernatural and occult elements are integral to the film's Gothic horror genre, featuring curses, spectral beings, and themes of demonic influence.
The plot involves a 'mysterious curse' being unleashed and characters being menaced by a 'spectral armored knight on a white horse.' Morwen also warns Anne that 'demons walk the earth in the shape of men' and threatens that 'They will pull you down to Hell!', indicating themes of spiritual danger and condemnation.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumA central theme of the film involves a young woman rebelling against the oppressive control and expectations of her domineering mother-in-law, leading to defiance in personal relationships.
Anne's character arc includes 'learning to put her wants and needs first and choose what she wants from life,' directly opposing Morwen's controlling nature. Morwen is 'domineering' and attempts to control Anne's life, insisting she 'remain pious' and not 'take another man.' Anne engages in a 'secret romance' with Jago, despite Morwen's disapproval and her insistence that Anne cannot 'abandon her duty.'
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe film depicts religious themes with a critical lens, exploring religious fanaticism and the negative use of faith for control, including a religious character committing murder.
Morwen, described as 'deeply religious' and 'traditionally faithful to her religion,' commits the act of 'crazily murdering anyone in sight,' including a 'man of the cloth.' The film's emotional core involves a 'fight against religious fanaticism,' where Morwen uses 'fear as her primary tool to keep her daughter-in-law under control,' implying a negative portrayal of extreme religious practice.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowSearches for LGBTQ+ or gender identity content directly related to 'The Dreadful (2026)' yielded no specific information or character details. While general discussions about LGBTQ+ themes or other media appeared in the search results, none confirmed any LGBTQ+ representation within this particular film.
No specific characters or plotlines within 'The Dreadful (2026)' were identified as having LGBTQ+ or gender identity themes. Search results primarily linked to discussions about other films or unrelated topics when querying 'The Dreadful (2026)' with LGBTQ+ keywords.
Substance Use
LowNo specific mentions of alcohol, drug use, smoking, or other substance use were found in the available information directly pertaining to 'The Dreadful (2026).' Any related search results referred to other media or were tangential to the film.
There are no direct examples of substance use by characters in 'The Dreadful (2026)' found in the current available details. Search results for drug and alcohol keywords in conjunction with the movie title did not yield specific instances within the film's plot or character descriptions.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Given its R-rating for violence, bloody images, and a sexual reference, 'The Dreadful (2026)' is recommended for mature audiences aged 17 and older. Parents should be aware of potentially disturbing content, including graphic violence, explicit sexual themes, and intense psychological dread.
Additional Notes
The film 'The Dreadful (2026)' is a Gothic horror set in medieval England. It is based on a Shin Buddhist parable, which also inspired the 1964 Japanese film 'Onibaba'. The director, Natasha Kermani, is known for her work in psychological thrillers, suggesting a focus on atmosphere and character-driven dread rather than overt jump scares. Parental discretion is strongly advised due to the R-rating and the mature themes present.
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