Release: An Unholy Union

 

An Unholy Union

Genre: Horror/Thriller/Supernatural

Director: Joanna Hogg

Writer: Rachel Hallett Hardcastle

Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Aubrey Plaza

Budget: $18,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $20,745,053

Foreign Box Office: $16,604,959

Total Profit: $790,000

Reaction: An Unholy Union managed to just barely sneak by at the box office with the smallest (positive) profits of the season so far.

"A masterclass in atmospheric dread, An Unholy Union is a hauntingly beautiful descent that breathes fresh life into the gothic horror genre. Anchored by the magnetic and deeply felt performances of Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen, the film skillfully uses its sentient mansion setting as a metaphor for the suffocating nature of possessive love and inherited trauma. While it hits familiar beats of the "house with a secret," the film’s strength lies in its psychological precision; the slow-burn erosion of the couple's memories is far more terrifying than any jump scare. It is a stylish, heartbreaking, and genuinely eerie exploration of how the past can swallow the present, culminating in a finale that lingers long after the credits roll." - J. Jonah Johnson, Variety

"Where An Unholy Union is strongest is the overall atmosphere and strong performances by the two leads. The mansion is effectively realized as a jealous, sentient presence, and the slow erosion of memory and intimacy gives the story a tragic adult weight that works better than most haunted house movies. They only thing keeping it from being an instant classic is the reliance on familiar beats that come off as a horror checklist. Still the relationship between the leads is strong enough to carry a film worth watching." - Dexter Quinn, Cinematic Observer Newsletter 

"While An Unholy Union has a compelling premise, it often feels too restrained for its own good. The film leans heavily on mood and repetition, with long stretches where the story barely progresses beyond subtle tension and visual unease. The central metaphor—love as possession—is clear early on, leaving the back half feeling predictable. Olsen and Plaza give strong performances, but the film’s refusal to escalate in a meaningful way makes it feel more stagnant than suspenseful." - Cooper Wilson, The Earl Hays Press

Rated R for disturbing images, some violence, language, and thematic material.