The Mortuary Assistant (2026) Spoiler Free Review
Video game adaptations are always a gamble, especially when the source material relies heavily on atmosphere, player agency, and psychological immersion rather than a traditional narrative. The Mortuary Assistant (2026), directed by Jeremiah Kipp and based on the 2022 horror game by DarkStone Digital, approaches that challenge with surprising restraint. While it doesn’t fully escape the pitfalls of adaptation, it delivers a solid, eerie experience that largely works on its own terms.
Follows Rebecca Owens, a mortuary science graduate who takes a night job at River Fields Mortuary. What begins as a routine job soon turns sinister as she faces terrifying supernatural forces.
Film synopsis
This review comes from the perspective of someone who hasn’t played the game, but that didn’t affect the viewing experience, since the film smartly positions itself as an accessible entry point. The story follows Rebecca Owens, played by Willa Holland, a recent mortuary science graduate who accepts a night job at the isolated River Fields Mortuary. What begins as routine embalming work quickly spirals into a supernatural nightmare involving demonic possession, ritualistic practices, and deeply buried personal trauma. The film stays about 60% accurate to the game’s storyline, rearranging certain sequences and expanding character context to better suit a linear film format, and that decision largely pays off.
One of the film’s strongest aspects is its atmosphere. The mortuary setting is claustrophobic, and consistently unsettling. As a mostly single-location film, The Mortuary Assistant deserves credit for keeping the tension alive without relying on predictable jump scares.
The supernatural elements are effective, particularly in how they blur reality and hallucination. The creatures and manifestations are creepy and conceptually strong, though the execution is somewhat uneven. Practical effects would have benefited the film, as some CGI moments slightly undercut the horror rather than enhancing it. Still, the creature design itself is imaginative and disturbing enough to leave an impression.
Performance-wise, the acting is decent across the board. Rebecca is portrayed with enough vulnerability to make her emotional arc believable, even for viewers unfamiliar with the game’s deeper lore. The film takes time to explore her guilt, trauma, and fractured sense of self, adding emotional weight without becoming overly indulgent. These additions help ground the story and make the supernatural conflict feel more personal rather than purely mechanical.
At a relatively short runtime, the film remains concise and focused, a choice that works in its favor. There’s little filler, and the pacing never drags, making it an easy and engaging watch. While it doesn’t reach the heights of standout supernatural horror, it also doesn’t overstay its welcome or collapse under its ambitions.
Ultimately, The Mortuary Assistant isn’t an outstanding horror film, but it is a competent and atmospheric one. For casual horror fans, it offers a creepy, contained experience that’s perfect for a late-night watch. For fans of the video game, reception may be more divided due to the narrative changes and reliance on CGI. Still, as an adaptation that prioritizes mood, accessibility, and clarity, it succeeds more often than it fails, and proves that sometimes, less really is more.
The Mortuary Assistant is coming to select theaters this Friday, February 13, 2026 and arrives to Shudder on March 27, 2026.