“The Leaching” follows Vivian, who must use her limited memory to search for the truth while being tormented by the undead, a giant leech monster and her “father.”
“The Leaching” is many different things: psychological thriller, supernatural horror, slasher and creature feature. Revolving around memory loss, it’s akin to other 2026 releases “Affection” and “sMOTHERed.” Here, the mystery is largely explored through dialogue, with characters stumbling upon something strange, then discussing it. This occurs on repeat as writer-director Evan Showalter blends the subgenres together in just a 76-minute runtime.
By trying to be so many things, “The Leaching” ends up not having enough leech. For viewers who are hooked on that basic idea, they will likely find themselves disappointed. If you can embrace the bizarre, however, the film ends up having plenty to say. Religion is at the center of the movie, exploring the literal manifestations of blind faith. No matter your spiritual beliefs, we all carry faith in something, whether that’s in a higher power or simply the people around us. With every belief, however, there are those who manipulate it into something nefarious.
Visually, it’s dark — really dark. But not necessarily in a bad way. The film has a textured, grainy look with an inherent creepy factor. As characters drive down dark roads or move around tight corridors, the eerie aesthetic aids in executing the horror. Director of photography Amarillys Velasquez keeps scenes discernible no matter how much or little lighting is present. She also implements subtle shakes into the handheld camerawork that add anxiety to tense moments.
With such a short runtime, Theo Sanders and Showalter’s editing is crucial as well. “The Leaching” isn’t always straightforward, weaving dreams, flashbacks and supernatural entities into the mix. In other movies, these intrusions are used as the sole way to inject horror. In “The Leaching,” they usually feel integral to the plot, complementing the various tones within.
“The Leaching” utilizes a mixture of practical special effects and visual effects. Clearly, the highlight is the leech creature. Despite only being featured in brief spurts, it proves to be terrifying whenever it appears onscreen. This not only comes from the look of the monster itself, but also the sound design that accompanies it. Dark environments and close-up shots allow slight imperfections to remain hidden while the important details are accentuated. That’s not all, though, as there are also impressive blood and fire effects that remain memorable after the credits roll.
Click to reveal an image of The Leech from “The Leaching.”
When discussing technical aspects, I’d be remiss not to also mention Gabriel Matthews and Zach West’s score. The ominous rhythms are often slow-tempo, but they pick up in key moments. Sometimes, they even grow loud enough to highlight some of the film’s most intense sequences.
Reese Parish (Vivian) stars in “The Leaching.” Suffering from memory loss, she starts the movie in a quiet, cautious state. As the runtime progresses, this quickly grows into constant anxiety and fear for her safety. Parish conveys these emotions well, making Vivian feel like a real person despite her placement inside this strange scenario. Her counterpart, DeVaughn Loman (Ellis), is equally impressive. He delivers every line with the same smile, veering from sincerity to obvious malevolence. It’s the conversations between Parish and Loman that do most of the heavy lifting in advancing the film’s narrative.
“The Leaching” may not have enough leech for creature feature enthusiasts, but it does boldly blend various subgenres together. It’s a unique piece of hybrid horror that scares more than it settles.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
