Official synopsis
In the highlands of Scandinavia, where folklore and reality converge, Hannah travels to surprise her boyfriend and meet his family. However, her unexpected arrival unlocks family secrets and unleashes mystic danger.
Review
Often, going in cold to a film can be a blast. Such is the case with director Gabrielle Christensen’s Mountain King (U.S., 2026). From what little I had learned about it before watching, I was expecting a straight folk horror outing, and from the cold open, that seemed to be correct. Something in a wintertime Scandinavian forest is stalking three friends. But soon after that sequence, I could see that I was in for a horror comedy. In this case, it was quite a pleasant surprise.
Hannah (Hannah Deale) travels from her home in the States to visit, unannounced, her boyfriend Gregor (Carter Sirianni) at his family home in Sweden. Gregor had recently proposed to her but she declined, and now she is having second thoughts. Gregor implores her to leave immediately because, as he says, his parents are monsters. Mother Ingrid (Irina Malygina) immediately warms up to Hannah, though, and invites her to stay for Jul. Enter father Wilhelm (Keoki Trask), and both parents are thrilled that Hannah is now willing to be part of the family. This being a horror comedy, headstrong Hannah isn’t in for an easy “meet the parents” vacation.
Christensen always remembers that horror is in play, and he balances the chills and chuckles well, leading into a rather intense third act. The quartet of leading players are all great, highlighted by Deale in a charming comic performance that makes her character simultaneously annoying and likable.
Currently on the film festival circuit, Mountain King is a fun entry in the yuletide fear fare subgenre, and also a rollicking dark romcom. As a big fan of folk horror and folktales, I give the film some extra points for those elements. Strongly recommended for fans of these subgenres, and for horror comedy aficionados.
Mountain King screened as part of Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, which ran October 15–22, 2026.
