The 100 star Bob Morley was my primary reason for interest in FrightFest feature Another. This sci-fi horror thriller cuts deep with compelling moral dilemmas and ambiguous characterwork. It’s not only a great genre flick, but a hugely original indie that absolutely deserves to be seen by a wide audience. One of the best festival surprises of the year, Another makes a great case for going into these lower budget flicks as blind as possible.
Joey (India de Beaufort) is still reeling from the horrible accidental death of her husband Owen (Morley). As several weeks pass, Joey retreats further into her own state of grief. But then, one morning, Joey goes into the kitchen to discover Owen there, making pancakes for her as if nothing has happened. He claims that she may be having memory issues, and her therapist confirms this possibility. Is Owen really there? Who is the strange freak in the hoodie and baseball cap who torments Joey night after night?
Another subversively flirts with mystery elements, as the audience goes along with Joey for a ride into unexpected waters. The whole thing may be relatively simple to explain on paper, but filmmaker Andy Chen somehow weaves the complexities into the concept. It probably helps that both Joey and Owen are played by strong performers. While Owen is more upbeat and bubbly, Joey is more reserved and kind in her nature. Throughout the film, we follow Joey on this journey as she attempts to make sense of Owen’s sudden reappearance. The answers are always fun and interesting, and lead down a dark path of endless possibilities. The smart script from Chen and co-writer Alexander Hernandez-Maxwell constantly asks viewers how they would handle this exact scenario throughout the runtime.
The chemistry between Joey and Owen is the film’s lifeblood, and makes each juicy moment of dramatic tension that much more compelling. We long for the answers just as much as Joey does. Are those around her just gaslighting with extreme prejudice? What exactly is happening under the surface of this mind-bending thriller? Everything is on the table as the film reaches a crazy climax that must be seen to be believed.
With such a crazy hook to the narrative, Another sticks out from the festival crowd. There are plenty of opportunities within that could have been executed in a lazy way. Thankfully, director Chen does a terrific job with the cat-and-mouse and character development aspects. Even the jump scares and intense sequences are seamlessly executed with a signature style. With a thrust of a concept and great characterizations, the film, which is practically a two-hander, is never boring throughout its breezy runtime. If anything, I would love to spend more time in this world, especially given the implications of the insane finale. Beaufort really managed to impress me as Ali, and Morley does a phenomenal job as Owen. Another makes an excellent case for never judging a book by its cover, and giving indie filmmaking a proper chance.
Another screened at 2026’s Tubi FrightFest.
