REVIEW: ‘Hallowarrior’ Is A Bloody Affair With Heart

Hallowarrior (2026), directed by Ben Sottak, offers audiences Milly Shapiro a well-deserved spotlight as a young survivor in a post-apocalyptic setting. Set on Halloween, the film sparks thrills and wince-worthy moments with gnarly practical effects. Despite how Hallowarrior stumbles due to inconsistent writing, there’s still some intrigue and fun to be had. 

Hallowarrior follows Pumpkin (Milly Shapiro), the self-proclaimed “Last Girl on Earth” on Halloween Night. When a group of raiders shows up to disturb her evening and bring nothing but danger to her doorstep, Pumpkin is forced to fight back to stay alive. As far as protagonists in a post-apocalyptic horror film go, Pumpkin doesn’t want to live in isolation. She wants company but, ultimately, gets the wrong kind. 

The film opens on a scene from the before times, shot in the style of a family home video to recall better days. From there we’re thrown into present day, following Pumpkin as she scavenges for her solo Halloween celebration.

Milly Shapiro delivers a fantastic performance as Pumpkin despite a shallow script.

The disease resulted in food shortages and wiped out most of the human population. The film makes the events leading up to the present day clear through brief flashes of newspaper clippings and skeletal remains. Pumpkin’s loneliness bleeds through the screen, especially as she collects items to decorate her home.

As Pumpkin decorates, we get a strong sense of her state of mind. She clings tightly to the past, especially her dead family members. Pumpkin’s desire to no longer be alone leads her to briefly trust strangers who break into her home. And from there, it becomes a battle for survival against people who revel in violence. 

Shapiro brings a lot of heart to Hallowarrior as the protagonist. However, we never learn about why she’s the only survivor of her family or even what specifically happened to them.  The film needed more time to flesh out Pumpkin as a character beyond her need to survive. This would also have helped establish the events surrounding the main plot.

Hallowarrior needed either more time or a tighter story for all the moments to land.

Aside from Shapiro, two performances stand out. Ajani Russell, who plays Wendy, delivers a layered performance, showcasing depth beyond simply being a hardened survivor. Their character is deliberately the opposite of Pumpkin. Instead of clashing in an off-putting way, both characters work together to the best of their ability.

Shannyn Sossamon, who plays Thalia, is another highlight because she can switch from gentle to menacing. She’s the leader of her ruthless group, who are all addicts of an unnamed drug. However, beyond her, there’s little from the rest of the group to establish them further.

This is especially noticeable when the Home Alone inspired antics begin. It’s part of where Hallowarrior falters and could’ve used either a little more time or a tighter story to properly execute the home invasion. A home invasion that doesn’t even utilize the entire house. 

The film shines in its use of visceral practical effects.

The film deserves a hearty round of applause for its practical effects. The violence is messy and delightfully nasty. Certain scenes will leave you wincing until they’re over. The strong practical effects help distract but can’t overcome the weaker script. Like a partially carved pumpkin, Hallowarrior isn’t fully realized.

Hallowarrior has great atmosphere, appealing practical effects, and some strong performances. But it falls short because of the writing. It’s a shame, because the premise has promise. It’s not a film you should necessarily skip, but if you’re hoping for a tremendously fleshed-out post-apocalyptic home invasion film, it will leave you wanting. 

Hallowarrior premieres on Shudder on October 16th.