The Romford ‘Horrhiffic’ Film Festival offered some truly incredible films this year. But one stands firmly in my mind, and that’s Megan Tremethicks’s ‘Spoiling You’. A horrifically beautiful, terrifying, and emotional thriller that offers something unique to the Indie Film Industry. Whether it’s a psychological horror or an operatic thriller, you can interpret what you will of this wonderful fever dream.

Having the privilege of sitting down in the cinema to watch the World Premiere of ‘Spoiling You’, meant I also got to see Megan step up to the front of the audience. Her eyes staring into the souls of everyone there. An unsettling silence spread throughout the crowd as she paced from left to right, gazing into the viewers eyes. A sense of unease filled my body at that moment, but this film was not made to make people feel comfortable.

Director, Actor and Co-writer Megan Tremethick delivers a harrowingly beautiful performance as Miss Mutter. An ASMR content creator who hosts competitions for her audience and invites the winners to a private ASMR session, as Drew (Stephen Kerr) finds out as he becomes one of those “lucky” winners. The layers to Miss Mutter are endless. As she interacts with Drew, we are constantly guessing her next move, what she’s going to say what she’s going to do. This doesn’t just happen in the beginning, but throughout the film we are constantly unravelling her character. I can’t recall the last time an antagonist has had an imprint on my mind quite like her. Miss Mutter devises a performance that continues to impact us long after the curtains draw.

Stephen Kerr delivers a fantastic performance as Drew, the unknowing protagnist who signifies so many elements of modern day society. The one theme that stands out to me is men’s mental health. In his character you feel a loneliness about him. He latches onto Miss Mutter as the answer to all his problems, his escape from reality. His journey is a tale that has taken a wrong turn, but the defining characteristic to Drew is his defiance to give up and to carry on. I felt a close connection to Drew throughout the film, his resilience is almost inspiring in a way.

I will never forget Lawrence R. Harvery as Miss Kitty Mutter, who provides comedic moments but great elements of depth and an unsettling nature that makes one feel uneasy about he’s going to do next. Ultimately he is a victim too, and I felt a certain level of pity for him. This just shows the sheer amount of layers this film has.

Michael Brewster has to be given credit for the cinematography. The story requires a lot of close up, lingering shots that seem to invade the viewers privacy and also reflect the ASMR theme, and Brewster does a fantastic job of helping us connecting with the characters and feel unsettled at the same time. As with ASMR, sound design plays a crucial role in helping people feel calm and centred. However, every tiny sound in this film keeps you on edge, from the cutting of scissors to the scratching of hair, what would normally help you to relax is suddenly tying knots in every muscle in your body.

If I was told that in 2026 I would witness a World premiere of a film that would almost certainly turn my whole perception of horror upside down, I would have hired Lawrence R. Harvey to dress up as Miss Kitty Mutter to chase them. However, this is not the case, for ‘Spoiling You’ has shown me that there is so much more to be explored in the horror-sphere, and the British Horror Studio and Megan Tremethick have truly just scratched the surface of something so terrifying, yet so mesmorising. Miss Mutter is here to stay, whether it’s on your screen or in your head, she will be in your dreams for many nights to come.