Official synopsis
In Trauma, or Monsters All, visiting writer Cassandra (Laëtitia Hollard) arrives in the quiet upstate town of Talbot Falls to research a book on George Washington Carver while working at the local library alongside her new friend Agnes (Aitana Doyle). After Cassandra publishes an article exposing the town’s unsettling past, buried secrets begin to surface as a werewolf, vampire, and Frankenstein creation emerge from the shadows, forcing the community to confront generations of fear, guilt, and suppressed trauma.
Review
Writer/director Larry Fessenden brings his unique vision of a monster rally film to cinematic life with Trauma, or Monsters All as creatures and humans from three of his previous works return for what may be the filmmaker’s last feature. Fessenden’s vampire Sam from Habit (1994), the Frankenstein-type monster Adam (Alex Breaux) from Depraved (2019), and the wolfman Charley (Alex Hurt) from Blackout (2023) all play vital roles as Charley and Adam help each other out while they live together in privacy — that is, until writer Cassandra (Laëtitia Hollard) chooses the town of Talbot Falls, New York, to visit and moves in next door to the pair.
Suspicious of her neighbors, she writes an article for the local paper that sets off the equivalent of pitchfork-and-torch carrying villagers out to punish her for dredging up the past. Sam drops in from New York City when he learns from the article that he may not be the only monster in the United States, bringing his own brand of havoc. Aitana Doyle adds a solid supporting performances as Agnes, Cassandra’s fellow employee at the local library, friend, confidante, and eventual lover. The list of cast members returning from Fessenden’s previous films includes Barbara Crampton, Addison Timlin, and James Le Gros.
Anyone who has seen Fessenden’s films, whether the ones referenced here or others such as Wendigo (2001), know to expect a thinking person’s approach to a creature feature, with plenty of intriguing drama and engaging performances, along with Fessenden’s deep knowledge and love of horror cinema as he helms the project marvelously.
Somehow, I haven’t seen Habit yet, which I need to rectify soon, but having seen Depraved and Blackout, I can say that although it isn’t an absolute necessity to see those three features before watching Trauma, or Monsters All, it would of course help make some elements clearer to viewers, but not being familiar with that trio of terror tales shouldn’t stop viewers from diving into the chills that await in Talbot Falls.
Dark Sky Films presents Trauma, or Monsters All in select theaters from November 4, 2026, followed by a nationwide VOD release on November 24th.
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