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The Leech

Play trailer 1:38 Poster for The Leech 2022 1h 22m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Father David, a Catholic priest struggling to grow his congregation, encounters a stranger by the name of Terry asleep one morning after Mass. Terry is without a home after a fight with his girlfriend Lexi and with Christmas less than a week away, David offers him a place to stay for the night. What begins as a simple act of kindness quickly turns complicated as Lexi arrives shortly after with news of being evicted from her house. Unable to turn away this helpless young woman, David allows both her and Terry to stay with him through the holidays on the condition that they open themselves to the healing power of God's love. Yet the harder David tries to reform the lives of these seemingly innocent strangers, the more he himself falls victim to their toxic ways, leading to the belief that their arrival is in fact, a test from God. Will David pass the test and accept his new houseguests as they are? Or will he set aside the ways of Christ and resort to blood-soaked, Old Testament justice?

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The Leech

Critics Reviews

View All (23) Critics Reviews
Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Scrappy, fierce indie that’s shot a shoestring budget but is funny, weird and features two hilarious lead performances. Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 13, 2022 Full Review Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana The Geek Show (UK) The Leech is at times comedic, whilst still retaining absolute tension over viewers, with unexpected twists and turns this morality tale depicts the fraud and deceit that the Catholic church has become known for. Rated: 5/5 Jul 9, 2024 Full Review Dan Scully ScullyVision As much a thriller as it is a comedy, and as much a horror film as it is an exploration of blind faith Jan 12, 2023 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews An uneven Christmas horror comedy about a couple who test a stuffy priest’s faith to its limit. Rated: C+ Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Joey Keogh Wicked Horror The Leech doesn’t unfold as you’d expect it to. Even the pacing, although deliberate, places the weight on seemingly innocuous moments. ... By the end, you’ll be left wondering not just who the title refers to, but also what was real and not. Dec 16, 2022 Full Review Richard Schertzer Film Threat The Leech is not a great romp in the comedic or horror genres. It has horror parody written all over it, and those are rarely any good. Rated: 5/10 Dec 14, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (4) audience reviews
Carson M Solid religion-themed horror flick with some unexpected turns and a satisfying third act. Not a, say, Midnight Mass -level critique of organized religion, but competently produced and fun. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/05/24 Full Review Brendan J The only word to describe this film is: odd. The entire cast elevates this film, but the standout is Graham Skipper. Known for his usual full-bodied performances, Skipper takes this character in a completely different route from any other performance he has done. As a whole, I loved the film and respected how authentic Graham Skipper's performance was. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/26/23 Full Review brad p ‘The Leech' is a sin-filled stocking stuffed with chaos, whiskey, cocaine, and dildos. And yet, it still could have been weirder. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review wayne k Taking Christmas, the supposed happiest holiday of the year, and tossing in violence and murder has been a trend for decades now, and The Leech continues this illustrious tradition. What's so great about it is that is can be enjoyed and experienced on multiple levels. You can look at it as an examination of a man struggling with his faith as he's being drawn into temptation. You can look at it as a story about how unquestionable hospitality can often backfire. Or you could just see it as statement on the sheer misery of having houseguests. Graham Skipper gives a great performance as a priest whose commitment to his religion is slowly being eroded by a dwindling congregation, taking strangers into his house and deeply regretting it. His slow and sure deterioration is perfectly portrayed and always convincing, and he's aided by supporting turns from Jeremy Gardner and Taylor Zaudtke, who give us 2 of the most insufferable houseguests in human history. The film highlights both the highs and lows of religious commitment, and how sticking to such ideals can be both uplifting and torturous if that individual is pushed too far. It's a crazy film at heart, with much of it feeling like a David Lynch fever dream. Modesty slowly gives way to decadence, and its both compelling and tragic to witness the transformation of our lead as the demons in both his soul and his abode start to overcome him. The 3rd act can become ‘too much' at times, as the film leans heavily on jerky camera movements and incessant noise, which makes you feel like you're falling down a set of stairs while 2 people are shouting in your ears. But it has a fittingly shockingly climax that, while much of it is done offscreen, leaves you with no doubt as to what's happened. A truly anarchic film with imagery that will stick with you long after its over, The Leech is a terrific new addition to the list of films that 99% of people will never see, but the 1% will never forget. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Leech

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Movie Info

Synopsis Father David, a Catholic priest struggling to grow his congregation, encounters a stranger by the name of Terry asleep one morning after Mass. Terry is without a home after a fight with his girlfriend Lexi and with Christmas less than a week away, David offers him a place to stay for the night. What begins as a simple act of kindness quickly turns complicated as Lexi arrives shortly after with news of being evicted from her house. Unable to turn away this helpless young woman, David allows both her and Terry to stay with him through the holidays on the condition that they open themselves to the healing power of God's love. Yet the harder David tries to reform the lives of these seemingly innocent strangers, the more he himself falls victim to their toxic ways, leading to the belief that their arrival is in fact, a test from God. Will David pass the test and accept his new houseguests as they are? Or will he set aside the ways of Christ and resort to blood-soaked, Old Testament justice?
Director
Eric Pennycoff
Producer
Eric Pennycoff, Scott Smith, Adelyn Pennycoff, Sean Fowler, Robert Owen
Screenwriter
Eric Pennycoff
Production Co
Doomcroak Pictures
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 6, 2022
Runtime
1h 22m
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