It is a cauterized conjecture that tone and theme in your film have to match. This film takes that belief to an extreme connotation all the way  past eleven. Never easing up like the title says. It’s a trap, like painting yourself in a corner, to maintain a tone and theme match because it leads to two only paths for a conclusion. Either shock the audience and  go with blood and gore for an amp up ending, or do a glide to a soft fade out and ride the dreary mood and tone to the end. I would tell you what it picked, but trust me it was one of them. 

 “The Dreadful” applies not only to its name, but also in its setting, characters and mood. It permeates in every inch of the film not bending to give a break in the form of a comedy or color breakout. We are suffocating in dread without a break. In some instances it can work to an extreme storytelling,- to be cemented in a melancholy psychosis the entire duration of the film. The outcome leads to an ineffective lull, – with hints of what it could have been. 

The film was inspired by the 1964 Japanese film “Onibana” “The Hole” which itself was inspired by a buddhist parable. A classic among scholars and critics, and sidenote was an option to watch in my collegiate film class. The other interesting aspect of the film is that it stars Kit Harrington and Sophie Turner from GOT fame. A facet that it will dominate all discussions on the film for many. Drawing comparison to their roles in  GOT to their roles in this and will find little resemblance to it. An element that will disappoint many and unfairly rate the film lower because of it. What is similar is from the other headliner of the film, Marcia Gay Harden. Who is playing a role that harkens to her character in “The Mist” a religious zealot that can’t suppress her own demons. 

Technically, the film emits an average standard. Nothing is really egregious or an error in the film-but at the same time nothing stands out. And that’s what hurts the most to the film.  It fails to be anything memorable or unforgettable. It can be forgotten within minutes of viewing.  And to an artist or a creator that is more dreadful and anything projected on the scene.  6/10.