Psycho Killer (2026) 20th Century/Horror-Thriller RT: 92 minutes Rated R (strong bloody violence, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use, language) Director: Gavin Polone Screenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker Music: Sven Faulconer Cinematography: Magnus Jonck Release date: February 20, 2026 (US) Cast: Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, Malcolm McDowell, Logan Miller, Grace Dove, Nigel Shawn Williams, Aaron Merke, Stephen Adekolu, Darren Martens, Sydney Sabiston, Joshua Banman, Cassandra Ebner.
Rating: ***
You have to admire a movie that has the balls to break with genre conventions and establish its own identity. I expect nothing less from Andrew Kevin Walker, the guy who wrote one of the greatest serial killer thrillers of all time, the dark and disturbing Seven (1995). It’s a hard act to follow even thirty years later.
I wouldn’t say he comes close with his latest work Psycho Killer, but it’s memorable for its refusal to stay in its own lane. It’s…. well, something else. It starts off as a routine serial killer thriller with the spouse of a victim going after the cross-country killer known as “The Satanic Slasher”. It follows a familiar narrative path for a while before taking a left turn into unexpected territory. Then it goes completely off the rails with a final scene that suggests the inmates aggressively took over the asylum (metaphorically speaking, of course). I could only stare in amused disbelief as the end credits rolled.
State trooper Jane Archer (Campbell, Cold Storage) looks on helplessly as her husband and fellow trooper is shot and killed during a routine traffic stop. It’s later revealed the shooter is the homicidal maniac (Rogers, The Blackening) who’s been dropping bodies across several states. Obviously traumatized by what went down, Jane takes a two-week leave of absence from her job. Instead of using the time to grieve properly, she sets out to track down the killer and deliver justice. You could also call it revenge. Either way, she plans to end him.
Not content to stick with one character, Psycho Killer devotes equal time to the antagonist. We get to see him at work during his reign of terror. The killer, as you’ve probably surmised by now, is a Satan worshipper. He typically leaves his victims surrounded by satanic messages. We never see his face. It’s always concealed by a mask or hoodie. Nothing about this guy’s murder spree is random. He has a twisted endgame that has something to do with a mass killing that took place at a church about twenty years prior. I’m not going to elaborate any further. Where’s the fun in that? I’ll let you find out for yourself.
Psycho Killer isn’t perfect. I never said it was. It’s directed by a first-timer, a fellow by the name of Gavin Polone. He produced such movies as 8mm (1999), Stir of Echoes (1999), Panic Room (2002) and Zombieland 1 & 2 (2009-19). This is his first time at the wheel. It’s not too shabby as far as first efforts go. It’s suspenseful and compelling. It moves along at a nice clip. It has a genuinely creepy atmosphere. It has a few legit “BOO!” moments and some cool kill scenes. The topper has to be a roadside kill that goes crazily haywire with the appearance of a big truck. It’s a competently made thriller…. mostly.
The film has its flaws. The screenplay is somewhat convoluted. Walker throws too many ingredients into the mix. We get plot threads dealing with pregnancy, a heavy metal album, secret codes hidden in newspaper classified ads and a satanic sex cult. There’s also mention of a wild conspiracy involving the government. Polone manages to tie them together eventually but clumsily. It’s silly and smart at the same time. There are also a few gaps in logic that barely survive suspension of disbelief. Take the scene where Jane confronts the Slasher at a motel. They have a fight that ends with her being thrown through a window and the killer getting away. In the very next scene, she’s continuing her pursuit as if nothing major happened. How did she deal with the police? Did they not order her to stand down and go home? The movie never says. This isn’t the only plot hole either.
The acting is just okay overall. Campbell doesn’t really bring anything new to the table as the grieving widow obsessed with revenge. It’s not so much her fault as it is the way the character is written. It’s a type we’ve seen countless times in countless thrillers. Jane is a standard-issue heroine. The hulking Rogers lumbers and thumps his way through his role as the Satanic Slasher speaking all his dialogue in a deep, sonorous tone. We’ve seen his type before too. The only real standout is Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) as the leader of a satanic sex cult. He hams it up nicely.
It took a while for Psycho Killer to make it to multiplexes. It sat on the shelf for three years before the studio dumped it in theaters. That explains why there are currently two movies starring Campbell playing in theaters.
I’ve been hearing a lot of negative things about Psycho Killer. I don’t agree. Yes, it’s a trashy movie that recalls the slashers of the 80s. It’s ridiculous, but in a smart kind of way. It doesn’t pander to audiences. It doesn’t try to sell itself as a new classic. It just does what it does unapologetically. I can’t fault a movie for that. I like it. It’s a fun time at the movies.
