The Mortuary Assistant (2026)

The Mortuary Assistant is directed by Jeremiah Kipp and written by Tracee Beebe and Brian Clarke, adapting Clarke's video game of the same name for the big screen. From a directing standpoint, there is nothing particularly remarkable, but there is also very little that stands out as a misstep. Kipp keeps the film moving at a steady pace and delivers the expected scares without relying too heavily on cheap tricks. The screenplay, however, wears its inspirations on its sleeve, often feeling like a retread of Evil Dead (2013), borrowing many of the same possession and demonic horror beats but adding enough of its own identity.

Willa Holland, known for Legion and Arrow, plays the film's protagonist. She delivers a competent performance and handles the role professionally, but much like the direction itself, there is little that leaves a lasting impression. She carries the film well enough without elevating the material, making for a serviceable lead in a story that never fully asks her to stretch beyond its familiar horror conventions.

Paul Sparks, known for House of Cards and Boardwalk Empire, is a natural fit for the film's uneasy atmosphere. He has the kind of face that immediately makes you question his motives, and the casting wisely leans into that typecasting. Sparks brings an unsettling presence whenever he appears, helping maintain the film's tension even when the script becomes predictable. His performance is one of the stronger elements of the cast and complements the eerie setting well.

Overall, The Mortuary Assistant is a solid supernatural horror film that succeeds more through atmosphere than originality. While the screenplay feels heavily indebted to Evil Dead (2013), the cast delivers dependable performances and Jeremiah Kipp keeps the film engaging enough from beginning to end. It may not reinvent the genre, but it provides enough effective scares to satisfy horror fans. Result: B-

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