Kin Dread (2021) User Reviews (47)

Holy fake reviews, Batman!

[crazy_drunk_pedestrian · 5/10 · 2 April 2022]

Why bother including reviews if they're all obviously fake? Do producers somehow profit when people watch their bad movies through streaming services?

It wasn't terrible. But it definitely wasn't good. The lead actor did a good job, but the supporting cast- especially the actor playing Leonard, whose attempt at acting was borderline painful to watch- could've been bested by a high school drama class. As another reviewer mentioned, the "twists" are not that at all, there are really no big reveals, and what might have been an intriguing story, of penned by talented writers, ultimately falls flat. Oh, and bonus points for the disgustingly misogynistic sentiments of the lead's adoptive dad. Gross.

Stayed Until The End But This

[Mehki_Girl · 4/10 · 10 July 2022]

...Wasn't good. It was incoherent, poorly written, directed, and acted.

It had a story to tell, but made little sense in it's telling.

The ending made even less sense. The woman standing outside the house? An illusion? Or a dream?

Meh... Who cares..

Kin Dread...More Like Dread Full

[jm-vincent · 1/10 · 26 October 2021]

Once again, those involved in the flick obviously had a couple of pity-parties where they challenged each other to write the most glowing reviews. The first indication is the close grouping of all the "raves" in August and September. PLEASE let's have some honesty and integrity in your reviews, or at least less self-delusion. If you can't achieve those, at least stop making garbage like this. Proceed at your own risk, but you've been warned....

A Suspenseful Watch!

[MayhemFilmKreations · 11 December 2021]

Kind Dread is a twisted thriller film that entertained me from the very start. It was interesting to watch how this story unfolded starting off with a large soundboard recording multiple lives from different people/families in the main characters' (Ethan David Smart) apartment complex. He is beyond disturbed which draws you in even more to see what will happen next. I did not expect anything that happened in this film and I really liked that feeling instead of knowing or already predicting what the outcome can be. Beautifully shot! A must watch movie!

Not so much Kin Dread as Kin-Awful

[mattcording · 2/10 · 12 August 2021]

Amateurish, and badly acted, and quite nonsensical. Just not good at all really.

Waste of 90 minutes

[bribear71 · 2/10 · 30 October 2021]

Did I watch the same movie that other people on here did ?

This was a waste of time.. no mind blowing twist.. just ridiculous plot points that all feel like they have been done before.. Skip it !

Smart Psychological Thriller

[skinnerramone · 7/10 · 19 January 2022]

Kin Dread is a lot more polished than many of the indie films I watch. Ethan Smart does most of the heavy lifting, and he's quite believable in the role. The movie is well paced and passes quickly (nothing worse than a thriller that drags, that is not the case here), there is no unnecessary filler. The flashbacks are well done, the story is interesting and well written. I won't post any spoilers because that would ruin the experience, this is a movie that keeps you watching because you want to learn the whole story. A+ grade for the directing on this one, which is what really makes or breaks an indie movie. It's free to watch on Tubi right now, so what are you waiting for?

A Thriller That Moves At It's Own Rhythm

[briandilorenzofilm · 9/10 · 15 September 2021]

"Kin Dread" is an effective, cerebral drama with tinges of horror and a slow burning sense of *ahem* dread. Adrian Leon accomplishes a lot on what appears to be a limited budget but his imagination and inventiveness is evident from the jump. I love the audio / sound engineer element of the plot, which evoked such classics as "The Conversation" and "Blow-Out", with a little "Rear Window" thrown in there to boot. Following the protagonist Winters, the shy shut-in, who spends most of the film speaking to an Alexa-type device, could have been a slog if it was put into less capable hands, but Ethan David Smart shines in the lead role. I will admit that were times I found myself a bit lost in the various layers, the film really coalesces in the final twenty minutes. Leon manages to stick the landing, delving into full on horror, with a character reveal I never saw coming. Check out this twisty little gem today.

A modest indie thriller punching above its weight.

[moviezagogo · 7/10 · 9 September 2021]

Due to the abysmal state of Hollywood cinema of recent times, I've been watching a lot of indie films - a sea change, if you will. But this hasn't been without a tidal wave of problems either. You know what I'm talking about. After reading the synopsis for Kin Dread, I thought maybe I was in for a Blow Out clone, but I like Blow Out, so in I go. That being said, it's pretty clear from the beginning that Kin Dread treads its own path in the uncrowded sound designer thriller genre. Erring on the brooding arty introspective side, Kin Dread actually looks and sounds surprisingly decent. Another pleasant surprise is that the leading player exudes a cinematic magnetism that's rare on the indie scene. Admittedly, there were a few times I wondered if the film was on the verge of confusing itself, but ye of little faith, we land on solid ground in the end. I especially loved the isolated hazy tone of this movie and had an enjoyable time watching it.

Well Paced

[MRP-Ent · 19 September 2021]

A slow burner, but well paced mystery-thriller. Kept me guessing, enjoyed the overall story and thought it was well written. Good indie film!

A well-made, Good-Looking Indie

[baccaruda1 · 7/10 · 23 August 2021]

I like indie films a lot and try to watch intriguing titles whenever I find them. "Kin Dread" has an intriguing story line that combines solid acting, great production value, a polished, cinematic look that separates it most most of its indie film competition. The lead actor was especially good, and he reminded me of a young Anthony Perkins. This is a movie that needs to be paid attention to, as the director Adrian Leon asks his audience to do some of the heavier lifting in connecting plot points, which is indicative that Mr. Leon trusts his viewers. The set-up in the first act set the stage well for the rest of the film, and although act two sags a bit, the film closes with a couple of unexpected revelations. However, the film makers had a definite look and vibe in mind when making this movie, and in my view attained their goal of a very good-looking movie. Overall, one of the better indie films I've recently seen!

Intriguing paranoia

[BigHarvey · 8/10 · 27 October 2021]

I really found Kin Dread intriguing and it held my interest the whole time. It had an early Brian De Palma vibe with a mix of Coppola's Conversation paranoia with a dash of creepy Hitchcock. Great job by the cast of unknowns. It's nicely shot with a strong audio design. I think it could have benefited from some tighter editing in the finale but this is definitely one of the better little indie films I've seen in a while.

Kin Dread Delivers

[ktclay-07720 · 7/10 · 12 July 2022]

As as horror movie buff, I feel like I've seen almost every plot line ever written. But KIN DREAD turned all that upside down! Excellent performance by Ethan Smart as a shut-in sound designer with OCD who stumbles upon murder in his headphones. And Elinor Gunn is WOWWW as the mysterious woman across the street he likes to peep. The claustrophobic atmosphere and great direction makes it all the more intense, and it keeps building to a great climax. I won't giveaway any plot twists here, but NEVER saw them coming and was totally surprised by that great ending! Definitely worth checking out!

Unique & Intriguing

[thebobsmesscast · 7/10 · 30 May 2022]

Yes, it's a slow burn, but well paced for an indie mystery-thriller. Enjoyed it for what it is (an indie film) and watched it through that specific lense; not through a big-budget summer blockbuster lense. Solid writing and great sound design, which really caught my ears. There is a hint of Hitchcock's Rear Window mixed in with Coppola's The Conversation. There is no Gene Hackman or James Stewart here for sure, but for an indie film it is very solid. The runtime could have been cut some with a tightened up script, but you can also say that for A LOT of bigger budgeted films so there is no slight there. Its streaming on Youtube so you don't really have anything to lose.

Updated & Modern Rear Window

[dearerica · 9/10 · 17 September 2021]

Mysterious, suspenseful thriller Indie that keeps you guessing. Great storytelling through just a few rooms, bringing the the feeling of other sets/rooms through suggestion and sound. Loved the lead actor, Ethan David Smart, and Patrick Cupo who played Alan. They beautifully conveyed the family tension through loss and disfunction. We care for them both.

Didn't see the end coming either. Enjoyed it and recommend!

Twists and Turns keeping you on your feet

[tobyboston · 7/10 · 12 August 2022]

Thrilling dark and psychological watch, creative twists and turns keep you guessing the whole film. Some fantastic direction, great visual moments and creative use of sound within the narrative. While the script, pacing and some of the acting feels a bit jarring, Kin Dread takes a creative approach, with some solid dark and mysterious tones and plot lines that keep you guessing.

Unique Indie Cuts Its Own Course

[Classicfilmnoir · 9/10 · 10 September 2021]

Has a vibe sort of like the off beat classics of David Lynch, but is not at all derivative. Charts its own course and successfully navigates away from typical indie pitfalls like being overly introspective or derivative of other films. Thoughtful, haunting and very well executed. I definitely recommend this one!

Not your average Indie thriller

[The_TonyD_Review · 8/10 · 1 September 2021]

The world is chock full of thriller films that miss the mark, fortunately for us, the viewers ever in search of our next thriller fix, Kin Dread does not miss.

This film, directed by Adrian Leon and written by he and Steven Clayton, is right on target to keep you putting the pieces of the puzzle together... only to find out in its final scenes that key pieces may have been overlooked early on.

From a technical perspective, the cinematography, lighting, and sound are spot on. All three aspects are well incorporated into scenes that may very well leave you as they did me... feeling like I've been in similar scenes in my own life experience. You may know it as well... that feeling you can only get at dusk in the desert, or in the middle of an awkward moment with another person where neither of you can immediately find the right words to redirect an unspoken, yet obvious misinterpretation.

The majority of the actors in Kin Dread turned in performances that made their characters believable, especially those of Winters (Ethan Smart), Alan (Patrick Cupo) , and Jane (Elinor Gunn). These actors didn't just have to "feel" the script, they had to communicate it, and they did it well.

Kin Dread is an Indie thriller worthy of your undivided attention.

Sound on!

[NickRizzini · 8/10 · 19 August 2021]

I really enjoyed this film. The story is different, very intriguing and well directed. Reading the premise I decided to watch the film with headphones on and the experience was so much enhanced by it. The main actor is very good too. Thumbs up for me on this one.

Loved it

[artistgp · 9/10 · 8 September 2021]

Man, this was a really awesome find. Super cool story with some interesting direction. Great work in the sound department. This is an indie project that's the rare combination of being something different than the studio offerings while also being really polished. Can't wait to see what the team comes up with next!

Great psychological thriller!

[peterkondratowski · 10/10 · 11 October 2021]

A great psychological thriller that remains gripping and exciting to the end. The story is fabulous, very mysterious and leads great to the finale. The actors are really good, the main actor was especially strong. For an indie film very worth seeing! The director did a great job and showed great talent. Reminded me a bit of Hitchcock's "Rear Window" only this film is told in a modern way. Highly recommended!

extreme suspence

[mich1elle · 8/10 · 15 September 2021]

This is a fantastic movie. Great storyline, beutifully shot, and the acting is great. I highly recommend this movie.

Original and interesting.

[laproduccion · 9/10 · 17 May 2022]

What a nice surprise!

A well-crafted movie with a plot that will steal your attention from start to finish.

Well directed and with a strong cast, the sound design plays an important role in this story.

Highly recommended!

A trip back in time for me

[belindawroe · 10/10 · 22 March 2023]

I watched this with no real expectations only that it looked "my kind of thing". After watching I can honestly say... I was stunned! Whoever wrote this had incredible insight and a real connection with the aspergers syndrome, as previously known. I used to be a mental Health Nurse on a secure unit for adolescents. It brought back a lot of the thoughts and emotions from my work there. I found the film profoundly emotional, sad and creepy. It was if I was watching someone unfold their suppressed memories of abuse and violence. One to watch, but beware.... it leaves you with a sence of saddness, and a desire to know more! Excellent film and brilliantly directed and produced!

This is a well-done film

[lorrisaj · 8/10 · 13 May 2022]

Watched with my husband and we both enjoyed it. Definitely Hitchcockian, with elements of DePalma (who WAS the second coming of Hitchcock), and the was much higher level of attention paid to minute details that often is lost in lower budgeted indies. Writer/director Adrian Leon had a clear vision for this film, and the acting overall is very good. This one of the better indie films we've seen.