The Surrender

The Surrender is a 2025 supernatural horror film written and directed by Julia Max, starring Colby Minifie and Kate Burton.

Premise

Robert, a family patriarch, is ill and bedridden, and is looked after by his wife Barbara and daughter Megan. After Robert dies, Barbara enlists the help of a mysterious figure to bring Robert back to life by means of an occult ritual.

Cast

Colby Minifie as Megan
* Alaina Pollack as Young Megan
Kate Burton as Barbara
* Chelsea Alden as Young Barbara
Vaughn Armstrong as Robert
* Pete Ploszek as Young Robert
Riley Rose Critchlow as Lacey
Mia Ellis as Nikki
Neil Sandilands as The Man
Release

The Surrender was released in the United States on March 9, 2025 at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival.

Reception

Simon Abrams, writing for RogerEbert.com, gave the movie 3 stars out of 4, praising the performances and calling it "an eerie and accomplished gut-muncher that also happens to have grief and mother-daughter trauma on its mind." Shaina Weatherhead, writing for Collider, said that the film is "unafraid to take risks" and "ultimately delivers a fraught family drama replete with gag-inducing body horror and a whole lot of blood."

The Surrender

Premise

Cast

Release

Reception