The Retreat

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The Retreat

2021

1h 22m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Renee and Valerie, a couple at a cross roads in their relationship, leave the city to spend the week at a remote cabin with friends. But when they arrive, their friends are nowhere to be found. As they stumble through their relationship woes, they discover they are being hunted by a group of militant extremists who are determined to exterminate them.

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Critics Consensus

It wields its horror elements more effectively than its social themes, but The Retreat is a wilderness slasher that gore-hungry viewers should savor.

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Drew Gregory

Autostraddle

Understanding the characters and setting would make the disruption hit us harder. Instead there's a disconnect... But that doesn't mean the movie isn't still entertaining.

Jun 2, 2021

Full Review

Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Mills has a grasp of survival horror pacing that builds up a few good thrills and chills... Yet The Retreat always manages to take a step back from its innovative or even solid moments.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 1, 2021

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

"The Retreat" is efficient and angry with an explosive screenplay from Alyson Richards.

Rated: 3/4

May 27, 2021

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Anya Stanley

Vague Visages

While having gay leads is a refreshing inclusion in a genre that has historically excised or executed them, Mills’ movie is a toothless response to the ‘bury your gays’ trope.

Jan 8, 2024

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Even though The Retreat is completely predictable in how the story unfolds, it's a horror movie that's very effective in creating suspense and conveying 'race against time' terror.

Oct 28, 2021

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Alyson Richards' screenplay is tonally all over the place, making for a movie that seems to eventually make a joke of content with which it's just genuinely upset us.

Jun 14, 2021

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Sami A

Basic and repetitive!!! The critics got it wrong time!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

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Hugo S

A survival horror movie with an LGBT theme. A lesbian couple goes for a weekend break at a B&B in the woods. What follows next is far from being the idyllic trip they wished for: the couple is targeted by some locals motivated by hate crimes. But revenge is a dish best served cold! "The Retreat" feels predictable and the gory final act does not save the movie from being an overall dull experience.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

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Audience Member

Overall, there are many fun horror aspects to enjoy here, especially if you're seeking something violent and horrifying. As a plot, some moments feel familiar and slightly cliché, such as moments of dialogue. But once the first act passes, there's a fun film to watch with various unexpected moments. The surroundings are a nice touch, and the audio tracks are rewarding and fitting. Visually, it is a major disappointment that there are many scenes so dark it's almost darn near impossible to see what's going on. Adjusting your display at home won't help this issue any further. In the end, I feel insanely half and half on this one. It's a solid step in the right direction with fun moments, but it also misses some opportunities that could have made this more of an outstanding feature.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/11/23

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Audience Member

Low budget horror flick on The Movie Channel. I don't know how many horror movies revolve around a cabin in the woods but it's gotta be in the thousands. Nothing special don't bother unless there's nothing else on TV.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The critics are patently incorrect in their assessment of this movie as a wilderness horror treat. If you're new to the sub-genre, then it might be a worthy initiation ceremony; if you're more than a novice, then, well, you don't want to see this one. It was like navigating through cinematic woods with a broken compass.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Does it have anything new to offer to the genre? No. But you'll have fun watching it all the same.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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Pat Mills

Director

Aaron Ashmore

James

Rossif Sutherland

Gavin

Celina Sinden

Layna

Tommie-Amber Pirie

Renee

Sarah Allen

Valerie

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39%

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Synopsis

Renee and Valerie, a couple at a cross roads in their relationship, leave the city to spend the week at a remote cabin with friends. But when they arrive, their friends are nowhere to be found. As they stumble through their relationship woes, they discover they are being hunted by a group of militant extremists who are determined to exterminate them.

Director: Pat Mills
Producer: Alyson Richards, Lauren Grant
Screenwriter: Alyson Richards
Distributor: Quiver Distribution
Production Co: Alyson Richards Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 21, 2021
Runtime: 1h 22m

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