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Psycho Killer (2026)


Psycho Killer (2026) is a religious-tinged detective thriller that leans far more into procedural tension than outright horror. Directed by Gavin Polone, who is better known as a producer than a filmmaker, the movie benefits heavily from its screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker, the writer behind Se7en. His fingerprints are all over this. The writing is sharp, layered with foreshadowing that only fully clicks at the end, and structured in a way that constantly feels like it is building toward something inevitable.

The gorgeous Georgina Campbell plays the detective tracking down the titular killer, and she carries the film with confidence. You'll remember her from Barbarian and recently Cold Storage. The script gives her plenty of emotional range to explore, from controlled professionalism to visible cracks under pressure. She handles the lore-heavy exposition well and grounds what could have been overwhelming backstory. It is another strong showing for her and proof she can anchor a thriller.

There is a small cameo from Malcolm McDowell, known for A Clockwork Orange, though he is used more as a narrative device than a full character. His scene exists primarily to underline how committed and dangerous the killer is.

James Preston Rogers plays the Psycho Killer and delivers a restrained but unsettling performance. He avoids caricature and instead opts for something colder and more methodical, which suits the detective-thriller tone.

Overall, Psycho Killer is good and will be a forgotten and hidden gem. It contains some horror elements, but it functions primarily as a tense investigative thriller with strong writing and a compelling lead performance. Result: B+

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