[FrightFest 2026] FILM REVIEW: Imposters

Imposters - FrightFest English Premiere Review

Director: Caleb Phillips

Starring: Jessica Rothe, Charlie Barnett, Yul Vasquez, Bates Wilder, Luisina Quarleri

Written by: Caleb Phillips

Produced by: Joe Bandelli, Sara Seligman

Cinematography by: Allie Schultz

Original Score by: Alex Winkler

Synopsis:

After a couple's baby is taken, the desperate mother learns of a way to "get their baby back." However, the husband begins to suspect that what she brought back isn't their son.

Thoughts:

While the synopsis may bring the likes of ‘Pet Semetary’ or ‘The Changeling’ to mind, that is not what ‘Imposters’ delivers – and that’s a good thing. 'Imposters' is less about the impact of losing a child than it is the deteriorating relationship between our two main characters and the influence of chance in our lives, whilst engaging with thematic themes of parenthood, identity, and moral ambiguity through a chilling, almost sci-fi or Weird Fiction lens. 

Our protagonists Paul (Charlie Barnett) and Marie (Jessica Rothe) have just moved to a small town, following the birth of their son Theo and a shooting incident that almost left ex-cop Paul paralysed. It is supposed to be a new start for them, but Paul is unhappy and is having an affair, lamenting to his side chick that he was going to divorce Marie before Theo was born. Paul is not a good guy. And it is Paul’s fault when Theo goes missing at their housewarming party, for he leaves his infant son unattended to take a call from his mistress. 

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While searching for their son, a mentally unstable local man named Orson reveals that he used to live in their house and that the land is cursed. He gives them hope – there is a cave in the woods that will bring their son back. While Marie jumps at the chance and ventures into the cave, her maternal determination overcoming any sense of anxiety, Paul abandons her and is shocked when Marie returns with their son, seemingly unharmed despite being missing for two weeks. Theo should have been dead, and Paul knows it. 

Paul’s scepticism and fear is valid, especially given that Marie claims to not remember what happened in the cave, but his insistence that Theo is not his son and that Marie is not the ‘real’ Marie did not feel earned. The film would have benefitted from more scenes justifying Paul’s doubt, but it does not take away from the overall plot. Just a small gripe, on my part. 

Up until this point, the film is purposely slow, building an unsettling suspenseful vibe, but this is where it picks up. Caleb Phillips trades the traditional ‘missing child’ tropes for a mind-bending alternative reality narrative, one that is both deliberately confusing and depressing, with just the right amount of body horror sprinkled in. Paul’s primary motif throughout the film is his coin, one he uses to make all his choices in life. The narrative tackles this directly in the film’s second half and does not go where you think it will, which is what makes ‘Imposters’ so intriguing and clever. Whatever eerie situation is going on in the cave is never explained, but it does not need to be – it’s creepier without the explanation.

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Characters change – whether this is for the better or worse is left up to the viewer – and make choices that force us to consider what we would do in their shoes. The film stays with the couple throughout its entirety, rarely moving the story beyond their home so their performance is what needs to shine. Charlie Barnett and Jessica Rothe’s performances are believable and emotionally hard-hitting, complimented by Caleb Phillip’s utilisation of framing and lighting. Rothe is driven and brave, while Barnett is emotionally closed off, his performance almost entirely internal, which is frustrating to watch but clearly done on purpose to showcase how closed off he is to Marie and his own life. 

‘Imposters’ doesn’t break new ground with regards to the film techniques themselves (the soundtrack lacks any real impact, as does the cinematography beyond making it feel muted) but Caleb Phillips’ confidence behind the camera is clear and it is the story and performance the audience is engaged in, not necessarily how the story is filmed. While there are some elements that could have been fleshed out better, such as the consistency of Orson’s character or the lack of depth behind Paul’s initial doubts about Theo, it is a great film. Caleb Phillips is one to watch.

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

-Victoria Brown

'Imposters' received its English Premiere at FrightFest '26 on August 28th