In Cold Light

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In Cold Light

R

Jan 2026

1h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Ava is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be.

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Critics Consensus

While it offers some noteworthy visual flair, In Cold Light's story gets buried under implausible twists, worn out genre beats, and a cast that's never given the chance to shine.

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Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Jan 23

2/4

Maika Monroe plays a drug dealer facing off with her rodeo champ dad Troy Kotsur in a by-the-numbers thriller minus any real thrills. It’s the hints of a better film—fiercer, funnier, more attuned to a woman’s point of view—that nag at you.

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Sheila O'Malley

RogerEbert.com

Jan 23

A lot of thrillers are exciting but empty. 'In Cold Light' is thrilling but very full in unexpected and complicated ways.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Jan 22

2/5

In Cold Light is far better constructed and executed than its generic, straight-to-video title might imply, but it’s too monotonous – in the literal meaning of the word – to reach its aspirations or to really use its cast.

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John Serba

Decider

Jun 5

In Cold Light features a typically dialed-in and focused Monroe, delivering the type of quietly charismatic performance that cuts through inconsistent writing.

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Joe Kucharski

Pop Culture Leftovers

May 30

Maxime Giroux’s In Cold Light has the look of a modern day, hard-edged crime thriller but all-too quickly settles into familiar, crime fiction grooves.

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Claire Di Maio

But Why Tho?

Apr 1

6/10

Maxime Giraud’s direction and Sara Mishara are a winning combination, elevating In Cold Light to something worth keeping an eye on.

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Mr Hollywood

Jan 25

Gritty looking. Was entertaining. It doesn’t shy away from violence. If you don’t mind that in movies then you’ll enjoy it

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Robert W

Jan 24

One of the worst movies I’ve seen in awhile.

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Thomas L

@PoodleBoy 18h

I have not seen Maika Monroe since the excellent 'It Follows'. And what follows? A dry depressing movie of a woman NOT trying to go straight, after serving time in prison, pushing her way back into the drug business, with all of her old partners, including her twin brother, discouraging her from rejoining and a family reputation of being a trouble maker. Why her brother would then encourage her to go to a meet and greet makes no sense. And then the tedium/violence really sets in. Maika Monroe does a capable job, but the story is not new, the redemption is bare bones, the flashbacks and backgrounds stories are more of a distraction from the main story and too many of the bad guys are not well cast. Kudos to Helen Hunt and Troy Kotsur for adding some gravitas to the heavy tone.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Jul 10

The performance from maika is the only saving grace for this movie. The story was recycled generic garbage. There was nothing new here. The same old tired plot. I was expecting a serious build up to what should've been a exciting ending but nonetheless it fell flat on its face. Timothy Treakle......

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Kim P

@RT98672688 Jun 11

Good acting and cinematography. Bad dialogue and plot. Meh.

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Jun 10

A very depressing and bleak movie that had great acting about a young women recently released from prison and immediately gets into trouble again.

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Maxime Giroux

Director

Maika Monroe

Ava Bly

Troy Kotsur

Will Bly

Helen Hunt

Claire

Allan Hawco

Bob Whyte

Jesse Irving

Tom Bly

In Cold Light: Extended Preview

9:59

In Cold Light: Exclusive Clip - I Can Fix This

1:15

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Synopsis

Ava is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be.

Director: Maxime Giroux
Producer: Yanick Létourneau, Mike MacMillan
Screenwriter: Patrick Whistler
Distributor: Saban Films
Production Co: Périphéria, Lithium Studios
Rating: R (Some Drug Material|Language|Violence/Bloody Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2026
Runtime: 1h 36m