I usually despise when someone calls a horror movie a “slow burn,” but “The Last Anniversary” is that and a lot more. From the very first scene, co-writers / co-directors (and brothers) Jason and Brett Butler set a mood that’s equal parts nostalgic and creepy. There are plenty of bloody scares, but the thematic depth gives the film a lot more substance than you’d expect.
On the eve of the apocalypse, Tom (Kenneth Northfield) and Aubrey (Jesse McQueen) invite their original wedding party back to the abandoned hotel where they tied the knot ten years ago. They lure them back with the promise of a fun celebration, but the couple has an ulterior motive: to finally get to the bottom of the mysterious disappearance of their Maid of Honor Brenda (Jenna Vittoria) on the same fateful wedding night a decade ago.
It’s a very simple premise, but the Butler brothers work hard to build a foundation for their storytelling. The pacing is deliberate and admittedly too slow at times (the film could lose 15 or 20 minutes without hurting the story), but the unhurried moments give the audience time to really observe the characters, their dynamics, and the creeping tension that starts to settle over the hotel.
The acting is solid across the board, and the cast feels like a group of real people you might know (friends, exes, family members) trapped in a tense and increasingly strange situation. There’s something very authentic about the dialogue and interactions, and it makes the horror elements land harder when they finally arrive.
The claustrophobic yet expansive hotel becomes another character with its empty halls, shifting shadows, and unearthly energy. The structure feels alive, and the way the camera lingers on certain spaces builds a creeping unease. Then there’s Brenda, a half ghost / half memory that’s haunting the corridors and the minds of the wedding party. Are they being haunted by her, or are they just confronting the secrets they’ve buried for a decade? That ambiguity is handled really well, keeping you on edge without ever forcing cheap scares.
It’s not until the last act that the story really comes together and when it does, it’s worth the wait. The shocking reveal and final confrontation make all the slow moments feel purposeful, and the film lands a real emotional and psychological punch. The ending does a great job showing that sometimes the scariest monsters aren’t supernatural, but the ones hiding inside people you thought you knew.
If you’re a fan of character-driven horror that focuses on thematic elements as much as scares, “The Last Anniversary” is going to be right up your alley. While it is a movie that rewards patience, you’ll appreciate how carefully the tension was built once the pieces fall into place.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 