Synopsis

In this chilling found-footage horror from Canada, documentary filmmaker Mallory (Mallory Drumm) takes her boyfriend Alex (Alex Lee Williams), who suffers from increasingly violent parasomnia (sleepwalking episodes that have already led to self-harm), to a secluded, snowbound cabin in the Laurentian Mountains for a winter getawayβ€”and to secretly document his condition. What begins as a mix of relationship introspection and creepy nighttime footage quickly spirals into unrelenting dread as Alex's episodes grow more bizarre and dangerous, accompanied by an eerie whistling sound and hints of something ancient and Lovecraftian invading his dreams. As the lines between sleep disorder and supernatural possession blur, Mallory's camera captures a nightmare that escalates right up to the final frame, leaving viewers questioning what's real and what's lurking in the dark when the person beside you isn't fully awake.

Movie Details

  • Title: Dream Eater
  • Release Date: October 24, 2025 (limited theatrical release in the US; digital/VOD release November 18, 2025; premiered at festivals earlier in 2025 including Unnamed Footage Festival and H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival where it won Best Feature)
  • Directors & Writers: Jay Drakulic (aka Justin Hewitt-Drakulic), Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams
  • Genre: Horror, Found Footage, Thriller (with Lovecraftian elements)
  • Runtime: 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes)
  • Rating: Not rated (contains intense horror violence, disturbing images, and language; suitable for mature audiences)
  • Production Companies: Blind Luck Pictures (Canada)
  • Distributor: The438 Section (Eli Roth's horror label), Iconic Events Releasing (theatrical)
  • Filming Locations: Remote cabins in the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec, Canada
  • Cast:
    • Mallory Drumm as Mallory (the filmmaker/girlfriend)
    • Alex Lee Williams as Alex (the afflicted boyfriend)
    • Supporting: Jay Drakulic, Brittany Drumm, Robin Akimbo, David Richard
  • Notable: Presented by Eli Roth, who hailed it as potentially "the scariest film of the year" and compared it to Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project
  • Current Ratings (as of November 19, 2025): IMDb 5.0/10; Rotten Tomatoes 63% (Critics from limited reviews), audience scores mixed (~50-60%) – praised for atmosphere, Alex Lee Williams' performance, and genuine chills, criticized by some for repetitive tropes and uneven pacing