Film Review: It Feeds (2025) (Panic Fest 2025)

Film Review: It Feeds (2025) (Panic Fest 2025)

It Feeds had its world premiere as part of Panic Fest on Friday, March 28, 2025 in Kansas City.

Synopsis:

After a young girl burst into their home psychiatry practice claiming an entity is feeding on her, Jordan and her clairvoyant mother must find a way to stop the force before the girl is taken completely.

Written/Directed by Chad Archibald
Starring Ashley Green, Shawn Ashmore, Ellie O’Brien, Juno Rinaldi, Julian Richings, Mark Taylor, Shayelin Martin, Brooklyn Marshall
Produced by Cody Calahan, Chad Archibald, Evan Ottoni, William G. Santor, Doug Murray, Morris Chapdelaine
Executive Producers John Hills, Andrew Chang-Sang, Navid McIlhargey

Director of Photography Jeff Maher
Production Designer Josh Turpin
Edited by Mike Gallant, Chad Archibald
Costume Designer Madi Styles
Original Score Steph Copeland

US Casting Stella Nova Casting
Canadian Casting, Ashley Hallihan CDC, Ian Bender CDC

Black Fawn Films/Productivity Media

 

 

 

Review:

It Feeds was written and directed by Chad Archibald. So far, the first few minutes of this film are making me question my life. Ashley Greene portrays Cynthia Winstone. This reminds me a tiny bit of “The Cell” (2000). Cynthia is working with clients, and she sees the inner fear of what people see. Cynthia is “just a therapist,” but is so much more. Taking people on a deep dark journey to their childhoods. Ellie O’Brien portrays Jordan Winstone.

 

Cynthia can see the same thing that Riley can see. The unknown, and having a girt can be a blessing, and an overwhelming curse. Riley found out about Cynthia because of Agatha Baker (Juno Rinaldi). Having a gift like this can also be a foundation breaker when it comes to friends and family. This movie is tense. It has an uncomfortable aspect to it, which I love. WELP! That took a TURN!!! When you watch a movie, and you know something wild is about to happen. YES! This is wild. Juno Rinaldi, and Ashley Greene are excellent in “It Feeds.” Shawn Ashmore is playing this character with gusto.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the special effects. The make-up, and what Cynthia and Jordan see. “It Feeds” is creepy in a good way. It makes you think, it dives into those deep, dark cervixes most people do not want to deal with. I love Juno Rinaldi’s character; Agatha is funny but takes all of this serious. Brooklyn Marshall portrays the Creature effortlessly.

The BRILLIANT, Julian Richings portrays the retired doctor who helps Cynthia. I see small nods to other great films, and horror movies but I don’t want to add in too many spoilers. You sort of expect this but YOU don’t. I love a good pick-up truck, pull up shot. You know shits about to get REAL. That was nice… He left a flashlight.

 

YES!!! YOU GO AGATHA. I hope she isn’t a relative to Randall. Is it Brooker’s Lake after Richard Brooker? I’m going to cry. This is making me nervous. NEVER hand someone else with you a shovel. NEVER. I don’t care how long you have known them. Mark Taylor portrays the intense, John Otis. I need to take a walk. I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, holding my laptop, and rocking back and forth. THIS IS SHADOWWORK at it’s BEST. This is our minds. Our fears, our doubts, our lives, the worries we have.

 

This is one of the reasons I love horror movies, and Ashley Greene is HALLOWEEN GOALS at this moment. Oh, I love a good crow/ demon moment. DAMN IT, OTIS. When I say, “May your nightmares inspire you,” this is what I mean. I would recommend watching IT FEEDS. I love Otis for not treating Cynthia like a “crazy woman.” YOU know what, I love Chad Archibald for not writing it that way. Now, I’m crying. What kind of bullshit is this. It reminds me of my life, my childhood.

 

When you are different in this world, it’s not always a fun place for you, but you make it fun. You make the world better doing what you do. You make the world better by facing those fears you hide deep in the back of your mind. The healing is the hardest part but we make it. I know, I turned this into a whole psychological mess but I have loved horror movies since I’m a kid, and this movie is an example of why. — Oh, I would kind of like a sequel for obvious reasons.

 

May Your Nightmares Inspire You. Always.

 

Go watch IT FEEDS!

 

Check out #PanicFest25