In February 2026, Nightborn stormed onto screens at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the buzz was instant. After her striking debut Hatching, director Hanna Bergholm returns with another twisted take on family horrors. This time, she drags new parenthood into dark Finnish folklore territory. Expectations ran high—could she match that earlier unease? I walked in braced for chills. What I got was a visceral, messy ride that grips hard but doesn’t always land cleanly.
The story follows Saga and her British husband Jon as they chase an idyllic fresh start. They relocate to a remote house buried deep in the Finnish forest—Saga’s childhood home. A newborn arrives, and joy should follow. Instead, suspicion creeps in. Saga senses something off about their baby. Jon remains oblivious. Tensions build. Isolation amplifies every doubt. The film keeps you guessing: postpartum paranoia or something far worse? It teases ancient forces tied to the land without tipping into full reveal too soon. Curiosity pulls you through.
Plus Points
- Bold body horror delivers genuine shocks—gore feels earned, not gratuitous.
- Seidi Haarla anchors the film with raw, committed intensity as Saga.
- Atmospheric Finnish forest setting builds dread effectively.
- Dark humor cuts through the tension at smart moments.
Minus Points
- Some pagan folklore elements feel clichéd and underdeveloped.
- Pacing drags in the middle as suspicions repeat without escalation.
- Black comedy lands unevenly—funny one minute, forced the next.
- VFX creature work stays mostly hidden, which weakens impact.
Technical Aspects Bergholm directs with confidence. Cinematography captures the oppressive woods beautifully—shadows and silence work overtime. Sound design heightens every creak and cry. Editing keeps the runtime tight at around 92 minutes. Rupert Grint brings solid support as Jon, playing the skeptical dad with quiet frustration. Yet Haarla steals every scene; her physical transformation sells the descent. Practical effects mix well with digital for the gruesome bits. Score stays subtle, letting atmosphere dominate.
Final Verdict Nightborn swings big. It blends motherhood anxieties with folk horror and Cronenberg-style body terror. Strengths lie in its unflinching gore and Haarla’s powerhouse turn. Weaknesses show in familiar tropes and uneven laughs. Horror fans craving something bloody and bold will find thrills here. Casual viewers might walk away unsettled but not fully convinced. Worth a watch if you liked Hatching—just temper expectations. I recommend it for its gutsy ambition. 6.5/10.
