Review of the film ‘Gator Face’ (2026)

This story happens in Florida, land of beaches and wetlands. Three girls on holiday travel to a lonely beach, and when they head back to their car, their find one of the old houses next to the beach showing a painted phrase that was not there before: ‘3 DEAD INSIDE’. Naturally, they decide to take a look, or else the film would finish at the 5 minute mark.

This is a slasher, a sub-genre from the horror film where there is not mystery but just a fearsome killer chasing the victims with unsophisticated weapons. Blood is shown, although not really that much. The titular Gator Face is a tall, muscular man covering his face with an alligator mask. And real alligators appear, worshipped by Gator Face and fed with the freshest meat.

The protagonist, chased by Gator Face, finds a van much like Scooby Doo’s, crewed by two boys and two girls. Gator Face chases the five into Florida’s wetlands, where they search for help.

The direction from Padraig Reynolds is good, with right camera moves. One of the strong points of the film is the excellent cinematography from Michael Bolten and Drew Suppa - the landscape of the wetlands is shown in all of its splendour. The music from Holly Amber Church is adequate.

Time for acting: The protagonist Amariah Dionne is as much expressive as if she was wooden. Good acting from Barron Regan, Iain P Smith and also Nikolas Kolasinski, with his strong physical playing of Gator Face. Highlighted acting from Tabitha Brownstone and Scot Scurlock.

All in all, an entertaining slasher with no specially good acting. 3 out of 5.

Title:	Gator Face
Genre:	Horror
Year:	2026
Nationality:	United States
Colour:	Colour
Director:	Padraig Reynolds
Writer:	Padraig Reynolds
Cast:	Kiara Mitjans, Ellie Shaddix, Amariah Dionne, Nikolas Kolasinski, Barron Regan, Tabitha Brownstone, Iain P Smith, Ella Mosca, Scot Scurlock, Ronda Smith, Josh Russell, Camryn Daugherty, Cayce Daugherty, Courtney Daugherty, Madison Frost, Rachel Harness, Cristin Hillard, Catherine Maguire, Craig Maguire, Gigi Rice, William Rice, Bowie Scheveling, Frank Sladicidal
Producer:	Patrick Ewald, Jason Scott Goldberg, Padraig Reynolds, Wes Thomas
Co-producer:	Josh Eckberg
Executive producer:	Patrick Ewald
Cinematographer:	Michael Bolten, Drew Suppa
Film editor:	Bryan Colvin, Ed Marx
Costume Designer:	Brian Blair
Music:	Holly Amber Church
Running time:	80 minutes
Language:	English