Manor of Darkness Film Review

Manor of Darkness (2025)

Directed by: Blake Ridder

Written by: Blake Ridder

Starring: Kim Spearman, Mirella Camillo, Stacey Edward Harris, Louis James

Indie Film Review by: Holly Baker

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Directed by Blake Ridder, Manor of Darkness (2025) is a feature-length horror film which plays on satirical horror, borrowing from cliches within the meta-horror genre. Containing effective scares and well-built characters, the film grips viewers' attention both visually and narratively.

Moments of gore are delivered with care and skill, and the visual effects are highly realistic, keeping the viewer convinced and engrossed in the horror aspects of the film. Meanwhile, its comedy is entertaining and maintains the film’s light, humorous feel. The film incorporates several conventions of horror, the main one being the time loop, which drives the narrative.

The film moves from scene to scene well, with smooth transitions and satisfying pacing, which keeps viewers invested in all elements of the story. After a Halloween-esque opening, looming over a luxurious manor wherein most of the film’s action takes place, we are introduced to our main characters. Laura (Kim Spearman) and Chris (Louis James) are brother and sister. Over the course of their lives, these siblings have bonded over their love for the supernatural as well as their law-breaking tendencies. Their love for the mysterious world beyond the veil has led them to this ‘Manor of Darkness’, where they, along with Chris’ girlfriend Lisa (Sarah Alexandra Marks) and newfound friend Andy (Rui Shang), become stuck in a time loop which only Laura is aware of. This time loop tortures her both physically and psychologically, as she must work with Lucas (Stuart Wolfe-Murray), the estranged owner of the manor, to find a way to escape the loop alive. 

The film’s backstory and setup for the main narrative are well executed and detailed. Each setting, from coffee shop sequences to flashbacks of Laura and Chris’ crimes, is made up of well-rounded scenes with significantly realistic and extravagant world-building and patient character establishment. There are also several moments of horror during this build-up, such as depictions of mysterious creatures which are genuinely terrifying, as well as blood-filled, uncomfortable episodes used to present psychological turmoil. 

Although the film’s story is gripping and the horror elements are strong, all the performances could have benefited from a slight improvement. Much of the line delivery lacks variation or conviction. Whilst this works to an extent, as the film is more of a light, comedic horror than one to be taken in absolute seriousness, viewers may appreciate more differentiation in moments of distress for each character, as there is little change in tone between certain characters’ reactions to the manor lacking any cell phone service and their response to witnessing a death. This partly comes down to the film’s poor script, which contains many unimaginative lines. Luckily, the film’s feisty visuals and entertaining storyline make up for this. 

A true passion for film is easily detected in this film’s attention to detail, as well as its moody lighting and consistent visual variation from scene to scene. This makes the film an easy, enjoyable watch, enhanced by its use of satire as it plays on meta horror clichés, which fans of Cabin In The Woods will certainly appreciate. As well as this, the film works as part of the haunted house genre, using the permeating nature of time and the claustrophobic sense of being trapped to incite fear. Manor of Darkness is a lively, well-executed film with an integral adoration for horror, which viewers will appreciate as they are taken on a mysterious, enthralling journey from which they may never escape.