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Tense Thriller 'Hallow Road' Divides Critics Ahead of Theatrical Release

The Babak Anvari-directed film, starring Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys, opens in cinemas on May 16, with praise for its suspense but debate over its supernatural twist.

Overview

  • Hallow Road, directed by Babak Anvari, follows parents Maddie and Frank as they guide their daughter Alice through a crisis after she hits someone on a remote road.
  • The film, featuring Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys, uses a single-car setting and real-time phone calls to heighten tension during its 80-minute runtime.
  • Critics have praised Pike and Rhys for their emotionally charged performances, which anchor the story's exploration of parental responsibility and control.
  • The screenplay by William Gillies introduces supernatural folk horror elements midway, which have divided reviewers, with some citing narrative inconsistencies.
  • Hallow Road premieres in cinemas on May 16, 2025, with its minimalist direction and thematic depth drawing comparisons to Anvari's earlier work, Under the Shadow.