The Surrender is a character driven look at loss, grief, and acceptance. After the death of the family patriarch, daughter Megan (Colby Minifie, The Boys) and mother Barbara, (Kate Burton, Grey’s Anatomy) begin the grieving process. Megan soon learns that her mom has been planning on using a ritual to bring her husband back from the dead. And she is going to do it with or without Megan’s help.
Attempting to defeat death is one of horror’s most popular tropes. From making deals with the Devil to dark rites like in The Surrender, stories about people trying to defeat death have existed for a long time. Due to their inherent nature, this fight to preserve life is always the central premise.
The Surrender does things a little differently by focusing on its characters. Death advances the plot, but heartache and memories are the main focus of the plot. The end result is a film that is anchored by the strong performances of the two leads. While there are a couple of well done jump scares, the real horror is in what the two women are going through.
Both actors bring a natural feel to their characters that will make audiences feel for them both. The plot is over the top and gets more wild as things progress. But there is also a grounded quality that brings a reliability not often found in these types of films. The Surrender is a tense watch that also creates empathy.
The final act brings Megan’s character full circle. There have been many hints and flashbacks regarding her childhood and how she sees her father. This in turn has affected her relationship with Barbara. It all culminates in a strong and satisfying ending.
The Surrender premieres on Shudder May 23.
