The Face of Horror: Anna Biller’s Medieval Ghost Story Claims Rave Reviews After Festival Debut

Cult filmmaker Anna Biller has made a triumphantly macabre return with her long-awaited third feature film. Following its world premiere in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Face of Horror is drawing critical acclaim as a visually intoxicating, sharply satirical feminist art-horror spectacle.

Written, directed, and produced by Biller (The Love Witch, Viva), the film transposes the famous 1800s Japanese ghost story Yotsuya Kaidan to 14th-century England. The result is a 120-minute Gothic tragedy about marital betrayal, toxic masculinity, and supernatural revenge, styled after 1960s Technicolor Hammer Horror and Roger Corman classics.

What the Critics Are Saying

Major entertainment outlets have praised Biller’s meticulous craftsmanship, heightening her reputation as a singular visual auteur who pairs lush vintage aesthetics with biting gender commentary.

• Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, critic Leslie Felperin praised the film’s extraordinary production value, calling it a “sumptuous, meticulously engineered piece of retro pastiche” that serves as “a delightfully unhinged showcase for Biller’s unique vision and unparalleled commitment to celluloid craft.”
• Reviewing for IndieWire, Ryan Lattanzio highlighted the director’s blend of style and subtext, hailing the feature as “a stunningly executed Gothic nightmare” that is “as razor-sharp in its critique of patriarchal cruelty as it is eye-popping in its vibrant, 35mm Technicolor glory.”
• Writing for Deadline, Damon Wise applauded the atmospheric tone, describing the picture as “a richly detailed, slow-burn medieval thriller” that “blends retro camp and genuine Gothic tragedy into an unforgettable cinematic feast.”
• Reviewing for Far Out Magazine, Calum Russell praised the thematic depth behind the visuals, remarking that “Biller turns a classic tale of betrayal into a hypnotic, exquisitely styled parable on female rage that will leave horror purists and arthouse cinephiles equally enthralled.”

Plot Details and Cast

Set during a grim Dark Ages era of castles and knightly ambition, The Face of Horror centers on Edward (Jonah Hauer-King), a roguish, self-absorbed knight who marries the gentle Eleanor (Kristine Froseth). When Edward grows repulsed by Eleanor’s ailing health and weary of farm life, he sets his sights on a wealthy countess, Isabel (Bella Heathcote).

Driven by greed and vanity, Edward’s brutal betrayal of Eleanor leads to horrifying tragedy—only for her wronged spirit to return as a vengeful entity to haunt her husband and those who wronged her.

The ensemble cast features a lineup of rising stars and familiar talent:

• Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid) as the entitled knight Edward
• Kristine Froseth (The Buccaneers) as the ill-fated bride Eleanor
• Bella Heathcote (Pieces of Her) as the wealthy countess Isabel
• Leo Suter (Vikings: Valhalla) as Richard
• Ellie Bamber (Willow) as Beatrice
• Ben Radcliffe (Anatomy of a Scandal) as Roger

Technical Craft and Release Information

Filmed on location in Prague with 35mm celluloid cinematography by M. David Mullen (The Love Witch, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), the production showcases custom period costume design by Biller herself, practical prosthetics, and an original orchestral score composed by Gabriel Andrés Gallegos.

Produced by Good Chaos and Sirena Films, The Face of Horror made its global festival launch in September 2026. A theatrical and streaming release schedule for the UK and US is expected to be announced by distributors in the coming weeks following its successful festival run.

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