Bonded (2026)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2026 SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Two sisters, Lujan (Clara Kovacic) and Dana (Bianca Mitnik), must return home after the untimely death of their parents. They haven’t Bonded with one another in years, having been estranged when Lujan chose to leave the country to pursue a better life. As the two look to rekindle their relationship and tie up the loose ends of the family’s estate, something wicked lurks in the family’s past, ready to get out, ready to attack. 

My first thought when I turned on Bonded was: “Wow, this is gorgeous!” From the opening shot of the film, it’s clear that this crew understands how to capture the best shot, how to frame the individuals on screen—but what most impressed me was Director of Photography Samuel Watson’s framing of the establishing shots throughout the film. Whether the film currently exists in a rural or urban setting, the clarity of those shots places viewers in the scene with the characters, transporting them to a place that feels familiar and accessible. 

Supernatural horror has never really been my forte; however, there are some films that exist in this cinematic realm that have managed to appeal to me over the years. The Ring, Insidious, and The Exorcist possess grounded, accessible elements that allow viewers to remain present, look past the occult (to a degree), and appreciate the human aspects of the film. Bonded reminds me of those films—not because they are inherently the same, but because Bonded possesses that aforementioned ability to help viewers see past the paranormal aspects and focus almost entirely on the natural elements that play a role in the film. The unearthly elements present in Bonded are used to supplement everything else that exists within this film, and by forcing that aspect to remain in the background, the viewer’s ability to access and remain present in the film grows stronger with every frame. 

Rarely do I say that any component of a film is perfect, as I feel it’s often an inaccurate hyperbole that negatively alters the expectations of any potential viewers. The use of lighting in Bonded, however, is nothing short of perfect. Watson and Writer-Director John Mathis know exactly what they want viewers to see at any given moment, refusing to give us anything more than what they feel is necessary. There are instances throughout Bonded in which only mere inches of the background are visible, but that doesn’t hinder the viewer’s experience. This team plays with the dead space on screen, manipulating the light that creeps in and out of each frame—adding to the suspense and keeping viewers fully immersed in the narrative. 

Bonded never relents in terms of positive qualities. From the opening moments, there is something for viewers to latch onto and appreciate. Around the halfway point, the tone shifts even darker, seeing Lujan become someone else, something else. Once again, this aspect of Bonded is perfect; Kovacic’s performance is perfect. It’s not often that actors are tasked with playing two drastically different versions of the same character within the same film (it happens, but it’s rare in the grand scheme of cinema). Kovacic must completely change the way in which she approaches Lujan, elevating the film with her performance and providing viewers with a treat that remains ever-present throughout the course of Bonded. 

This intriguing game of cat and mouse flies by, never becoming stagnant or failing to entertain. Screamfest Horror Film Festival has consistently been home to some of the more intriguing horror films that I’ve seen in the past few years. Bonded continues this tradition with near-perfect visuals, a perfect use of lighting, and one of the best performances that I’ve ever seen from Kovacic (with incredibly strong performances by the rest of the cast as well). Bonded will likely terrify you…just in time for spooky season. 

Written & Directed by John Mathis. 

Starring Bianca Mitnik, Clara Kovacic, Pablo Bobadilla, Guillermo Jorge Inchauspe, Chain Malvina Ester, etc. 

9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW