One Eye Open movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: One Eye Open

This creepy horror releases on October 16, 2026 in the USA

RATING:  PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hr 21 min

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

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    (the picture on the right is from the movie)

IN A NUTSHELL: Spooky house-sitting turned full-blown ghost party! One Eye Open, written and directed by Michael D. Coffey, centers on a recent college graduate who agrees to house-sit at her ailing grandfather’s creepy, expansive mansion. What starts out as a simple gig quickly turns into a terrifying cat-and-mouse game when a crew of ruthless thieves break in. But the robbers get far more than they bargained for! It turns out the mansion is filled with the protective spirits of former dead residents who are ready to unleash absolute havoc on anyone trying to harm the young woman.

Congratulations to Michael D. Coffey for his 10 wins at various film festivals! The movie won awards such as Best Original Score, Best Director, Most Technically Excellent, Best Horror, Best Paranormal Film, and more! Michael reached out to me directly to talk about his movie and send me a complimentary press screener almost a year ago! I’m so proud of him for finishing the film! We movie-goers often forget what a labor of love these films are and how long they take to make. I love supporting indie directors and writers and producers! (He’s all three!)

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Frightening jump scares, eerie atmospheric tension, and ghostly apparitions. This is too scary and violent for young children.

• Home invasion violence, fighting, and deadly confrontations between burglars and spirits.

• Classic horror tropes, including a shower suspense scene.

• Some profanity and thematic elements involving death and the afterlife.

• Some profanity
• Alcohol
• Some blood. We see several people die violent deaths.

THEMES:

• Unseen protection and family legacy.

• The consequences of greed

• Facing fear when cornered in isolation.

• Survival skills
• Life after death

THINGS I LIKED:

• I liked the fun twist of having the haunting entities act as bodyguards against human intruders rather than typical evil monsters.

• Because the entire cast members look like real people and not glitzy Hollywood celebrities, it adds realism to the story.

• While there were some stiff acting moments, the cast did a good job. Some notable talents include: RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad), Maximiliano Hernández (Avengers: End Game), Chris Bylsma (News of the World), Laura Kirk (American Honey) and Kevin Willmott (Oscar-winner for co-writing BlacKkKlansman).
• The setting of the old house was a perfect find. The home was beautiful, yet old and creepy at the same time.

• From the very first scene, there is fast-paced action that jumps straight into the chaos without dragging.

• I really liked Jamie Addison’s portrayal of a genuinely compassionate caregiver. I wish I had someone like that taking care of my sweet mother when she was in her final days with Alzheimer’s.
• The score and sound effects really set the mood and put you on the edge of your seat with uncomfortable anticipation.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• The low-budget indie production values show through in some of the acting, lighting, and visual effects.

• Certain character decisions leave you shaking your head in frustration.

• The tone wobbles a bit between a gritty home-invasion thriller and a supernatural ghost story.

• Other movies have the same title. A unique title would have been better and more descriptive.
• The villains felt a bit cartoony, albeit menacing.

FUNNY LINES: None! (The film maintains a serious, suspense-filled tone throughout the mansion siege.)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Always look over your shoulder when you sense danger.”

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• Don’t Breathe (2016)

• The People Under the Stairs (1991)

• 13 Ghosts (2001)

WATCH THE Movie Review Mom YOUTUBE REVIEW WITH THIS LINK: Coming soon!

@MovieReviewMom @TrinaBoice

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Dr. Trina Boice is a university professor, author of 36 books, professional author coach, YouTuber, podcaster, film critic, and mom of 4 awesome sons.