Only in Theatres:
September 12, 2025
Starring:
Rebekah Kennedy, Emily Goss, Ranen Navat, AJ Bowen, Sean O’Bryan, Susan Gayle Watts, Sean Whalen
Directed By:
Pierre Tsigaridis
Written By:
Pierre Tsigaridis, Maxime Rançon
Run Time: 81 minutes | Rating: Unrated
Traumatika borrows from some of horror’s most iconic nightmares, taking cues from classics like The Evil Dead. But instead of slapstick chaos, it channels its energy into something darker, meaner, and far more vicious. The story follows Mikey (Ranen Navat), a young boy plagued by night terrors that seep into his waking life. His worst fears come alive as he watches his mother fall under the control of a malevolent force. What begins as one child’s nightmare soon spirals into an ancient curse, one that will fracture his childhood and claim lives for generations to come.
While Traumatika isn’t entirely humourless, its sense of humour is jet-black and often depraved. These moments are hit-or-miss, but when the film focuses on its cruelty, it’s at its most powerful. Some scenes venture where many horror films dare not tread, disturbing, uncompromising moments rendered with unflinching special effects. Sometimes, though, the violence is so explicit that it loses its sting. Horror often thrives on what we don’t see, and at times, the film might have benefited from letting the audience’s imagination do the worst of the work.
At its peak, Traumatika is genuinely terrifying. It weaponizes three key elements to induce pure dread, the most effective being a young child trapped in a decaying, shadow-filled house while a relentless entity stalks him. The other two are best left unspoiled; part of the fear here lies in the unknown, and the film’s unpredictable nature is one of its greatest strengths.
The nonlinear timeline demands attention; those who drift may quickly lose their footing. While this can disrupt the pacing, it also adds layers that will reward repeat viewing.
The score is a standout element. Composer Gioacchino Marincola weaves a soundscape that doesn’t just accompany the visuals, it amplifies them. It’s rare for a film’s music to be as haunting as its imagery, but here, the score lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
Performances from Rebekah Kennedy (Abigail), Ranen Navat (Mikey), and Emily Goss (adult Alice) ground the supernatural horror in something deeply human. They bring an unsettling authenticity to the chaos, guided by Pierre Tsigaridis’s assured and uncompromising direction.
Traumatika is a relentless 90-plus-minute descent into hell, one that will have audiences gripping their seats, covering their eyes, and maybe leaving the lights on for a few nights. Despite occasional pacing issues and an overindulgence in explicit gore, it’s a striking entry into the genre, blending disturbing imagery, unnerving performances, and a suffocating atmosphere. This is the kind of film that’s best experienced in a dark theatre with a restless crowd, but its nightmares will follow you home.
