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Coming Home in the Dark

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Coming Home in the Dark 2021 1h 30m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A family's idyllic outing at an isolated coastline descends into terror when high school teacher Alan 'Hoaggie' Hoaganraad, his wife Jill, and stepsons Maika and Jordon unexpectedly come across a pair of murderous drifters -- the enigmatic psychopath Mandrake and his hulking man-child accomplice Tubs -- who thrust them into a nightmare road trip. At first, the family's terror seems to be born of a random encounter with two sociopaths, but as the night drags on, Hoaggie and Jill realize that this nightmare was set in motion 20 years earlier.
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Coming Home in the Dark

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Critics Consensus

Smart, well-acted, and above all scary, Coming Home in the Dark finds first-time director James Ashcroft making his mark with a white-knuckle ride for horror fans.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Oct 15, 2021
3.5/5
It's Gillies' performance that raises Coming Home in the Dark from fascinating to utterly chilling, complimenting Matt Henley's cold, angular cinematography and John Gibson's score. Go to Full Review Matt Zoller Seitz RogerEbert.com Oct 1, 2021
2.5/4
The filmmaking and acting talent on display is undeniable. Go to Full Review Noel Murray Los Angeles Times Sep 30, 2021
Ashcroft and his cast - and especially Gillies as the menacing and charismatic Mandrake - excel at drawing out the moment-to-moment tension of a crime in progress. Go to Full Review Kalu Oji ScreenHub Sep 9, 2026
3.5/5
Although it may start and end with a sunset, Coming Home in the Dark presents a world that is far from paradise. Truly a film for the brave of heart. Go to Full Review Paul Lê Tales from the Paulside Jul 23, 2023
3/5
Coming Home in the Dark never lets up until the very end. The suffering is extensive, and the sorrow is ceaseless. There is only so much people can take before they have to look away out of fear for their own wellbeing. Go to Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Awards Radar Sep 22, 2022
2.5/4
With his debut, Ashcroft shows a knack for bringing visceral thrills to a genre audience craving some gnarly fun in the middle of the night. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leonard E @RT22414378 Sep 2, 2026 BORRRRRRRING. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE POSITIVE REVIEWS, THIS MOVIE IS SUPER BORING, ABSOLUTELY NOT A THRILLER. SUPER SUPER BORING AND THE VILLAINS ARE SUPER DUMB. ENDING IS SUPER DUMB. TERRRIBLE FILM See more thomas B @rotten.Thomas Aug 29, 2026 So good, I love Ashcroft’s counterintuitive endings that make me think. He’s always getting me to look off center. See more Craig W. @CJWolfe27 Sep 8, 2025 Watchable thriller, could have been better but still good nonetheless See more Hiran G @RT85059363 Jul 28, 2025 it's a thriller. not sure why it's got horror tag. it does a pretty good job of it till the end. but it fails to provide details that could have made the visiuals superior. See more Dustin S @SaddamMustaine Jun 27, 2025 This is not a horror movie, it’s a thriller, and it’s pretty damn good. See more Diet Dr. Paul . @RT85301401 May 31, 2025 A combination of Eden Lake and The Landmine goes click… this is a genre bender than will carve itself into your bones and linger long after the credits roll. Smart, Twisted and incredibly unsettling, this isn’t a movie for the weak stomached, be warned! See more Read all reviews
Coming Home in the Dark

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Cast & Crew

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James Ashcroft

Director

Daniel Gillies

Mandrake

Matthias Luafutu

Tubs

Miriama McDowell

Jill

Erik Thomson

Hoaggie

Frankie Paratene

Jordan

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Coming Home in the Dark

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Coming Home in the Dark

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Movie Info

Synopsis A family's idyllic outing at an isolated coastline descends into terror when high school teacher Alan 'Hoaggie' Hoaganraad, his wife Jill, and stepsons Maika and Jordon unexpectedly come across a pair of murderous drifters -- the enigmatic psychopath Mandrake and his hulking man-child accomplice Tubs -- who thrust them into a nightmare road trip. At first, the family's terror seems to be born of a random encounter with two sociopaths, but as the night drags on, Hoaggie and Jill realize that this nightmare was set in motion 20 years earlier.
Director
James Ashcroft
Producer
Desray Armstrong, Mike Minogue, Catherine Fitzgerald
Screenwriter
James Ashcroft, Eli Kent, Eli Kent, James Ashcroft
Distributor
Dark Sky Films
Production Co
Light in the Dark Productions
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2021
Runtime
1h 30m
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