August 2026 Movie Reviews: Nosferatu, The Invite, Evil Dead Burn
This month, we’ll take a look at three films, one a couple years old and two newer releases. Two of the three are well worth your time!
Nosferatu (2024)
Focus Features, 132 minutes
I’ve always felt sort of mixed about the films of Robert Eggers, though I can acknowledge that he’s a talented and interesting filmmaker. While I really enjoyed The Witch, I strongly disliked the overly pretentious The Lighthouse and thought that The Northman was just okay.
As a result, I had never been too excited to watch Nosferatu. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I don’t think it’s nearly as good as The Witch, but it’s definitely my second favorite of Eggers’ works and clearly a worthwhile watch for fans of Gothic horror.
Nosferatu is a remake of the similarly titled 1922 film, which itself is an unauthorized and unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. While watching the film, I was reminded of the recent Guillermo del Toro film, Frankenstein, that was released on Netflix in 2025. Like that film, this one has great costumes and spooky atmosphere, and also feels loyal to its horror roots.
Nosferatu has some outstanding visuals, and I particularly enjoyed the use of creepy shadows throughout. Overall, it’s not mind-blowingly great, but it’s a solid horror watch for those in search of a quality Gothic horror movie.
Grade: 7.5/10
The Invite (2026)
A24, 107 minutes
It goes without question that The Invite, an English-language remake of a Spanish film directed by Olivia Wilde, is one of the better films of 2026 so far. The comedy-drama, which Wilde also stars in, is at times hilariously funny but also works on a deeper, emotional level.
The film focuses on a husband and wife, played by Seth Rogen and Wilde, who have their neighbors, another couple, over at the end of the day for food and drinks. As the evening goes on, tension mounts in a story filled with twists and turns.
Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz play the other couple, and the acting by all four members of the cast is excellent. Throw in a smart and funny script, along with quality directing, and you’ve got a memorable, fast-paced film.
The entire movie depicts a single evening and only features the couples, giving the movie the feel of something like a great play. With its exceptional writing and outstanding performances, The Invite is awards-worthy fare and definitely worth watching.
Grade: 9/10
Evil Dead Burn (2026)
Warner Bros. Pictures, 109 minutes
I was a fan of 2023’s Evil Dead Rise, so I had high hopes that this new entry into the Evil Dead universe would be at least pretty good. Unfortunately, it’s a big stinker.
Evil Dead Rise had some genuinely frightening moments in addition to being heavy on the gore. For this newer film, though, while the gore (often of the gross-out fashion) remains, actual scares are nowhere to be found. Evil Dead Burn is an ugly film, both visually and in the way it treats its unlikeable characters.
There’s just zero fun to be had with Evil Dead Burn. I don’t mind a violent, more realistic horror movie, but the story here (what little there is of one) is laughably bad. It’s a movie that takes itself seriously, too, unlike a more “fun” type of horror film like the recent Final Destination: Bloodlines.
It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that this movie got decent reviews since I don’t think it does anything particularly well. Even for those in the mood for tons of gore and gruesome kills, I’d recommend passing on Evil Dead Burn.
Grade: 3/10