Ancestral Beasts [Fantasia 2026 Review]

by Mike McGranaghan

Generational trauma has been a common theme in horror over the past few years. Ancestral Beasts nevertheless addresses it in supremely creepy fashion. World premiering at the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival, this chiller explores mental health issues among Canada’s indigenous population. That cultural specificity sets it apart; relatable themes give it universal appeal.

Elyse (Morgan Holstrom) is a hot mess. She’s reeling from the suicide death of her mother four years ago, she’s just screwed up big-time at work, and her older sister Nikki (Darla Contois) is constantly chiding her for not having her act together. For some much-needed solace, Elyse escapes to the remote cabin owned by her aunt. Peace and quiet do not follow. Creepy neighbor Max (Josh Strait) keeps pestering her and strange noises are emanating from a massive hole in the bedroom floor.

Writer/director Tim Riedel intriguingly mixes several elements together in Ancestral Beasts. There is a strong suggestion that Elyse has inherited her mother’s mental illness, causing her to wonder if taking her own life will be inevitable. At the same time, an entity definitely appears to be living under the cabin. Is there a connection between those two things? You bet. Meanwhile, Nikki thinks she’s being helpful, but her continued pleas for Elyse to “get over it” speak to how people who don’t have mental health issues often don’t understand them. Horror in the film subsequently works on multiple levels. Elyse is just as afraid of what’s in her own head as she is of what’s down that hole. We fear for her on both counts.

The visual effects are well-done without overwhelming the story. Sometimes seeing too much is less scary. Here, we get glimpses of the “thing” as opposed to a full-on look. That’s more than enough to make the threat to Elyse feel significant. It also keeps the primary focus where it belongs – on this young woman’s quest to overcome depression and anxiety. Additionally impressive is how the story resolves itself. I was expecting a cliched finale and was pleasantly surprised to get one far more thoughtful and resonant.

Morgan Holstrom is superb in the lead role, capturing the way internal and external terrors plague Elyse. She holds down the movie’s center with ease, earning our sympathy for the character. In one or two spots, Elyse chooses paths that are illogical, but Holstrom makes sure we forgive that. The supporting players are good, too, with Strait effectively giving Max a vibe so that we don’t know if he’s actually dangerous or just weird.

Ancestral Beasts contains well-executed jump scares and moments of terror. The scariest scene, though, is one where Elyse and Nikki get into a massive fight in front of the former’s new friends. That sequence speaks profoundly to the disconnect that sometimes drives a wedge between family members when mental illness is involved. Movies that can scare you with the supernatural and the realistic are rare, making this chiller even more of a nerve-rattling treat.