The Dreadful

Lore & Background

The film is set in the late-medieval period and follows Anne (Sophie Turner) and her mother-in-law Morwen (Marcia Gay Harden), peasants awaiting the return of Anne's husband Seamus from the Wars of the Roses. Anne is introspective and devout, while Morwen is a crude grifter. Their dynamic shifts when Jago (Kit Harington), Seamus's childhood friend, returns from war claiming Seamus was killed by thieves. Anne begins seeing an armored knight in the woods, and Morwen uses threats of the Knights of Hell to control her.

Reader's Guide

The Dreadful received generally unfavorable reviews, with a Metacritic score of 33 out of 100 based on 7 critics. Critics noted Marcia Gay Harden's performance as a highlight, with William Bibbiani of TheWrap calling it 'worth watching for Harden's perfidious performance alone.' However, many found the film tedious or uneven. Matt Donato of Daily Dead gave it 2.5/5, calling it 'dour' and 'noteworthy' only for the reunion of Game of Thrones stars. Therese Lacson of Collider praised its Gothic imagery and thematic richness but noted it 'can't seem to stick its landing in the third act.' The film was produced by multiple companies including Redwire Pictures, Storyboard Media, and Illium Pictures, and was filmed in Cornwall.

Did You Know?

• Sophie Turner recommended Kit Harington for the role of Jago after they worked together on Game of Thrones.
• The film is based on the same Shin Buddhist parable that inspired the 1964 film Onibaba.
• Marcia Gay Harden was added to the cast in November 2024, with principal photography already underway.
• The film was released in the United Kingdom by True Brit Entertainment on August 10, 2026.