PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Putting friends together on a cabin retreat is always a simple recipe for a party atmosphere with a tense vibe. Such is the case for Already Dead, an independent feature from Candid Life Entertainment.
Let’s take a look at this character-based thriller and see who can make it out alive.
Already Dead is written and directed by Adam Michael (Please Stop 2025). It stars Megan Lynn Hostetler (The Night and Gail 2024) as Chloe, Morgan Hostetler (In, Marion 2022) as Maggie, Selene Phillips (Fallout 2022) as Grace, Maggie Adler (Hallucinations 2021) as Alex, and Joe Morales (Rebirth 2020) as Greg. The plot sees these five friends come together for a weekend away in a secluded cabin. But as their secrets start to slip out, their relationships are tested and their long-term futures are changed forever.
Already Dead is alive and thriving in its relationships. This could easily be another typical slasher or surface level drama, but what sets it apart is the way in which we spend time with the characters. Michael takes a basic, single-location shoot and maximizes it by spreading the characters out. This film is shot like a stage play, in that we isolate two characters at a time to learn their secrets and build their connections with each other. It flows from conversation to conversation very well, and the dialogue and pacing are never lacking.
The location is very well lit, and the characters feel real and lived in. Megan Lynn Hostetler pushes the plot as Chloe, the drama-starved narcissist who stirs the pot to the detriment of everyone around her. Everyone has shades of grey in this relatable friend group, but Chloe’s unabashed actions have consequences that implicate everyone in her path. She has the trappings of Kathryn from Cruel Intentions (read our retro review here). But all five members of the cast are given interesting layers to peel back. This film is able to take a minimalist set and a small cast and provide a house of cards that never grows stale.
The one area that could’ve been expanded upon was taking a little more time once the big reveal took place. The audience could’ve been given the big explosion point earlier, so that each flashback held even more weight and the mystery felt like a bigger buildup and twist. That said, Already Dead plays like a series of bonding scenes that fit nicely as a complete puzzle, proving that simple ideas can tell an excellent story if the characters have depth.
Already Dead is eyeing an October premiere and future festivals, so be sure to check it out if it’s playing in your area.
