Killer couples therapy? Honestly, that's a premise that practically sells itself. As someone with a real soft spot for folk horror, I was immediately intrigued. At the same time, I'll admit I've grown a little skeptical. Ever since Midsommar, too many filmmakers have tried to bottle that same unsettling magic without really understanding what made it work. So, when I sat down to watch Love Is the Monster, I was expecting another slow-burning tale of pagan rituals, unsettling smiles, and inevitable bloodshed. Thankfully, Alex Noyer had something a little more interesting in mind.
For the first twenty minutes, I kept thinking I knew exactly where this was headed. Love Is the Monster plays like a familiar relationship drama before writer-director Alex Noyer (Sound of Violence) subtly changes the rules. What begins as a desperate attempt to save a failing marriage slowly gives way to something darker and far more emotionally complex. By the time the pagan rituals and supernatural horrors take center stage, I realized this wasn't really a story about an ancient cult at all. It's about damaged people looking for redemption in all the wrong places, and that emotional core kept me invested long after the scares set in.
The film's greatest asset is its atmosphere. Finland has always been a land of haunting folklore and cautionary tales, and Alex Noyer taps into that rich mythology with remarkable confidence. Instead of cloaking his horrors in darkness, he embraces the country's endless summer daylight, turning the midnight sun into nightmare fuel. Every frame feels unnervingly exposed, as though there's nowhere to hide—not from the ancient forces lurking beneath the surface, and certainly not from the secrets each couple has brought with them. It's a refreshing twist on folk horror, proving that terror doesn't need shadows when the light itself becomes oppressive.
That atmosphere wouldn't work nearly as well without grounded performances. Madeline Zima is excellent as Ana, balancing vulnerability with quiet resilience as she slowly realizes the retreat's promise of healing masks something far more sinister. Leonardo Nam brings genuine remorse and humanity to Justin, making him more than just the husband who made a terrible mistake. Their chemistry feels lived-in, and because their relationship is believable, the film's descent into supernatural horror carries real emotional weight.
What really surprised me was how much I cared about the mythology. The ancient goddess isn't just another creature lurking in the woods waiting for victims. She becomes a symbol of obsession, desire, and the dangerous idea that love can somehow erase betrayal. The rituals are disturbing without relying on cheap shock value, and the film trusts the audience to connect the emotional and supernatural threads on their own. That's refreshing. Does the pacing sag in the middle? Sure. There are times when I wish the story would move faster. Even so, I'm invested enough in the characters that I never find myself looking at the clock.
What stayed with me long after the credits rolled wasn't the bloodshed or the pagan rituals—it was the emotional fallout. At its core, Love Is the Monster is about the scars people carry into a relationship and the dangerous belief that redemption can be found in all the wrong places. That's what separates it from so many recent entries in the folk horror genre. The supernatural may drive the plot, but it's the very human pain beneath it that gives the story its weight. It's not a perfect film, but it's an ambitious, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant one that deserves to be discovered by horror fans looking for something beyond the usual jump scares and body count.
Beginning June 23, audiences across the United States will be able to rent or own Love Is the Monster exclusively on Prime Video.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 87 mins
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Writer: Hannu Aukia; Blair Bathory
Cast: Madeline Zima; Leonardo Nam; Moe Jeudy-Lamour
Genre: Folk Horror
Tagline: A Film by Alex Noyer
Memorable Movie Quote: "Your lives are about to change."
Distributor: Raven Banner
Official Site:
Release Date: June 23, 2026
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Troubled couples head to a transformative retreat in Finland, where they fall prey to a malevolent ancient goddess of love.
