Saccharine

Play trailer

1:41

Saccharine

R

Now Playing

1h 53m

Horror

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Hana, a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorized by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

Critics Consensus

Tapping into anxieties latent in an era of weight loss drugs, Saccharine's insights into nuanced themes come with a lot of empty calories but its gross-out scares sure do hit the spot.

Read Critics Reviews

Tomris Laffly

RogerEbert.com

5h

3/4

It proves that in a great horror movie, fear and helplessness work hand in hand. And James is expertly in control of it all.

Go to Full Review

Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

11h

A crudely slick and unimaginative horror movie about one woman’s dangerous quest to lose weight. It’s the kind of film that pulls you in with its provocative conceit only to drag you through a series of predictable twists and turns.

Go to Full Review

David Rooney

The Hollywood Reporter

Feb 4

James has no lack of talent, but fans of Relic who were hoping this might be a return to form after the mixed-bag Rosemary’s Baby prequel Apartment 7A will likely be disappointed.

Go to Full Review

John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

5h

78/100

James proves herself a promising voice in horror, as a patient director not interested in amassing jump scares, but instead investing in a parable about our unhealthy fixation on our bodies, the drive to do anything to lose weight. Anything.

Go to Full Review

Kat Hughes

THN

5h

3/5

Body horror and hauntings combine in Natalie Erika James’ latest horror offering. The result is a film packed with interesting ideas, a great lead performance, but ultimately gets its messaging a little confused.

Go to Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

8h

I was completely grossed out by it but that's the point of the movie

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Midori I

@RT51230874 58m

I am the Grandma but thought it a well-made film.

See more

Jillian O.

@JillianOgden 1h

Heart wrenching portrayal of a woman trapped in a mental obsession about her body. Francis was brilliant! ! Body horror reality!

See more

Movie M.

@RT31157263 1h

Wild, intense, and disturbingly great. Francis is fantastic.

See more

B P

@Bradster69 1h

Supernatural Body Horror Takes Aim at Diet Culture

See more

Jeanne-Mare R

@5thelement1982 1h

Deeply disturbing, moving. Mesmerising

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 8h

Success in 1 hour and 53 minutes. Rated R for Sexuality, Grisly Images, Disturbing Content, Graphic Nudity, Drug Use and Language.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Natalie Erika James

Director

Midori Francis

Hana

Danielle Macdonald

Josie

Madeleine Madden

Alanya

Anna Adams

Actor

Joseph Baldwin

Ryan

Saccharine: Trailer 1

1:41

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Hana, a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorized by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.

Director: Natalie Erika James
Producer: Natalie Erika James, Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw
Screenwriter: Natalie Erika James
Distributor: Independent Film Company
Production Co: Carver Films
Rating: R (Sexuality|Grisly Images|Disturbing Content|Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Language)
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 53m