In Cold Light (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

After a stint in prison, Ava (Maika Monroe) attempts to leave her old life behind. However, the past has caught up, and a seemingly neverending trail of pain and destruction is left in her wake. In Cold Light is a dark telling of how the past has a way of following us. 

Monroe seemingly has a type when it comes to films she prefers to participate in, as In Cold Light possesses many of the same narrative and aesthetic elements attached to Longlegs, the gripping horror/thriller from 2024. In Cold Light is gritty in its narrative pace, and a poignant look at the reality of navigating hardship. Often followed by the intensity of a red light, Ava is violently thrown into a world that is unapologetic, much like Director Maxim Giroux’s approach toward making this film. Red, simply put, represents bloodshed, death—a harsh reality that has followed Ava for years, nearly consumed her, and plays a prominent role in her character’s development from the start of the film. It’s a compelling touch that accurately asserts the tone of this thriller, and while that can be slightly overbearing at times, the consistency of what Giroux presents to audiences allows the film to remain cohesive and accessible. 

Furthermore, it’s Monroe’s subtlety that is charming and compelling throughout the course of In Cold Light. Given the exacerbated nature of the narrative (which I’ll touch more on later), Monroe’s ability to deliver her lines quietly and tactfully speaks volumes to her talent and to her understanding of the delicate balance necessary when creating a film of this nature. She steals the show in more ways than one, and her ability to anchor a film that feels a bit too big for its britches (at times) is a primary reason why she’ll continue on to more interesting and successful ventures in the future. 

Part of what allows Monroe to thrive in her role as Ava, and to present casual, tonal cohesion is the way in which Giroux and Director of Photography Sara Mishara choose to frame her throughout. I’m often reticent when it comes to commenting on female actors’ looks, as I worry that my commentary on the films in which they appear will quickly become thin and frustrating to many. However, there are some times in which commentary on an actors’ looks plays a pivotal role in how a film (and their performance) is received. Monroe is simple in her appearance, and that ultimately lends itself to the aforementioned subtlety of her performance—but it also presents Giroux and Mishara an opportunity to use that to In Cold Light’s advantage. Framing Monroe aggressively throughout the course of the film helps to develop a meaningful juxtaposition between her simplicity and her powerful role within the narrative. The aesthetic of an actor can have a bearing on how well the film works, and in the case of Monroe in In Cold Light, it works marvelously. 

What In Cold Light lacks is organic stability within the narrative. The narrative grows exponentially as the film progresses, seeing Ava transition from a run-of-the-mill drug peddler to something of a radical resister of authority in all of its forms. As it continues to grow, it becomes more and more challenging to accept the newly introduced premises present in In Cold Light. 

Films such as In Cold Light, the ones whose narrative(s) can become cumbersome and require a suspension of disbelief (which, in some cases, is a feat of strength) can often feel disjointed and frumpy. While I feel that the narrative flies off the rails from time to time, and becomes challenging to accept as legitimate, Giroux never allows her film to become inaccessible or fragmented—keeping at least one foot firmly planted in reality. Overall, In Cold Light remains a heavy film that frequently shifts its narrative, but remains effectively grounded as a result of Monroe’s prowess and both Giroux and Mishara’s understanding of how to use her. 

Directed by Maxime Giroux. 

Written by Patrick Whistler. 

Starring Maika Monroe, Allan Hawco, Troy Kotsur, Jesse Irving, Helen Hunt, Patrick Sabongui, etc. 

6.5/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE