Running Time: 90 Minutes
Starring: Dakota Gorman, Todd Terry, Jordan Mullins, Liz Atwater, James Austin Johnson
Making his feature debut, writer/director Brock Bodell opens Hellcat with a shot outside of a camper trailer. Raised voices are heard, as a woman refuses to return inside of the vehicle, but this opening does not show the arguing people. This is a good reflection of the unfolding film, for whatever horrors are hinted at off-screen are just worsened thanks to our imagination.
Viewers then see the vehicle in motion, as a disconcerting score plays while the camper drives through the middle of nowhere at night. Awakening inside is Lena (Dakota Gorman), uncertain of where she is, or how she got a mysterious wound on her arm. Speaking over the intercom is a stranger named Clive (Todd Terry), who interrupts Lena's brief indoor exploration to share that she is infected. He claims to be taking her to a specialist that is one hour away, and it is important that she calmly stays inside the trailer. But can this mysterious captor be trusted?
Is Lena in a dangerous situation, or is Clive genuinely trying to help? That uncertainty about the truth lingers across this feature, with the back-and-forth generating an intrigue reminiscent of 10 Cloverfield Lane. Atmosphere builds throughout the unpredictable situation, with one scene standing tall in representing this horrific scenario. As Lena screams through a small opening in an iron-clad door, that one source of light illuminates across a landscape of darkness, representing the only certainty contrasted with the unknown that lays outside. It is an effectively shot moment that captures an unsettling mood.
Front-and-centre across the feature, Dakota Gorman delivers a blistering performance as the captive protagonist, conveying a multitude of emotions as she questions Clive's intentions. The uncertain terror leaves her in need of help, but is not sure who to call due to troubled relationships - something that is effectively highlighted through concise flashbacks. This all comes forth due to Clive's actions, as the man who is initially a voice over the intercom leaves viewers guessing whether trust can be established, something that Todd Terry's portrayal terrifically conveys.
While they may be on different sides of the tightly-locked trailer, the central pair have more in common than they realise. Both are struggling to move forward in their lives as they grapple with grief, yet the methods they choose leaves them further isolated. In some cases, people search for another community to fill that void, leaving them struggling to differentiate entertainment from reality. As more of these elements make themselves known, it adds to the uncertain feeling regarding where this tale will go.
Admittedly, a late character introduction does come off as a clumsy way to reach a resolution, although it is worth commending for how the story touches upon reckoning with how our actions affect others, for better or worse. A strong debut film, Hellcat is a tightly wound work that keeps you on your toes and wonder where the danger truly lies.
Hellcat made its World Premiere at Fantasia Festival 2025
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