No Tears in Hell (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

No Tears in Hell follows Alex (Luke Baines), as he and his mother (Gwen Van Dam) look to clean up the streets and rid the world of the scum that plagues them. Murder and chaos ensue in a way almost unthinkable–and this mother-son duo commits some of the most heinous acts ever seen on screen.

The narration is eerie and uncomfortable, lending itself to heightening the intensity meant to exist throughout the course of the film. No Tears in Hell opens to Baines’ narration, and his ironically calm voice fills the screen, strengthening the narrative and immediately providing viewers access to the darkness that would exist from that point forward. 

No Tears in Hell is one of the most twisted films that I’ve ever seen, stepping into territory that even made me cringe, made me question reality and humanity. Writer Alexander Nistratov and Writer-Director Michael Caissie manage to create something that extends far beyond what the human mind might typically be able to comprehend, and they do it in a way that antagonizes viewers (in the best ways) and forces them to question everything. Much of what transpires throughout the film feels incomprehensible, and yet this duo has created something that feels interestingly grounded and accessible–allowing the film to become even darker. 

There’s an intended sophistication present in the narration, yet I’m not sure that Caissie manages to develop enough depth–ultimately causing Alex to remain monochromatic and simplistic–though wildly twisted. Alex remains the psychopathic murderer that nightmares are made of, and, while that’s more than enough, it seems clear that No Tears in Hell wanted to add more depth and make the film’s primary character more dynamic. Again, he remains one note–though I’m not sure that this is a bad thing. 

The biggest shock of all is the revelation that No Tears in Hell is based on a true story, and worse, that the culprit, the monster that took the lives of so many, was released just a few years ago. No Tears in Hell relies heavily on shock value to propel it forward, and while there’s an incredible amount of that present in this horrific story, that aforementioned reveal as the film faded to black was the hardest hitting moment of the entire production. 

No Tears in Hell possesses a killer soundtrack that manages to provide some levity in the more disturbing moments of the film. However, I’m not entirely sure why Caissie chose to do this, as the levity does steal from the intensity that is meant to cripple viewers, and there are times when the more gruesome acts committed by Alex take a backseat to the accompanying music. As powerful and entertaining as the soundtrack present in No Tears in Hell is, there are some issues that come along with it. However, in the grand scheme of the film–the soundtrack does work to combat the wildly heavy tones that exist throughout. 

While I do wish there was more depth present in No Tears in Hell, allowing the film to remain relatively simple keeps it accessible and provides viewers a continued opportunity to understand Alex’s journey. No Tears in Hell is one of the most twisted films that I’ve ever seen, and its frequent refusal to censor itself is relieving, gutwrenching, and brilliant. 

Directed by Michael Caissie. 

Written by Michael Caissie & Alexander Nistratov. 

Starring Luke Baines, Gwen Van Dam, Tatjana Marjanovic, Audrey Neal, Gabriella Westwood, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING