The Occupant Review: A Frigid Fever Dream of Isolation and Survival

Ella Balinska fights grief and icy terror in Hugo Keijzer’s chilling isolation thriller The Occupant.

Review: The Occupant – A Frigid Fever Dream of Isolation and Survival

Hugo Keijzer’s The Occupant, which premiered at SXSW London, is a chilling isolation thriller that balances grief, survival, and a touch of supernatural dread against an unforgiving frozen backdrop. Anchored by Ella Balinska’s commanding performance as Abby, an engineering geologist driven to desperate lengths for family, the film finds its strongest footing in its bleak atmosphere and raw human vulnerability.

Abby’s journey begins with tragedy—her loved one’s battle with cancer thrusting her into the financial and emotional stranglehold of medical bills and despair. En route home, a helicopter crash strands her on the icy borderlands between Georgia and Russia. Alone and possibly in hostile territory, Abby faces a grueling fight for survival, one compounded by an unsettling discovery: she isn’t alone. Whether her mysterious companion is salvation or doom becomes the film’s central tension.

Shot by cinematographer Robbie Van Brussel (Lampje), The Occupant is visually stunning. The frozen tundra becomes a character in itself—a stark, isolating force that amplifies Abby’s solitude. Balinska delivers a physically demanding, emotionally rich performance, supported by stunt double Chloe Kibble, as Abby traverses the unforgiving landscape. The film thrives in its ability to evoke dread through stillness, distance, and the crushing weight of time slipping away.

Where The Occupant falters is in its conclusion. Its narrative teases an interplay of sci-fi and supernatural elements, but the final explanation feels thin and uninspired—an underwhelming payoff for its otherwise gripping setup. The thematic threads of memory, loss, and endurance resonate, but the lack of a bold or imaginative resolution dampens its impact.

At just 90 minutes, it moves efficiently, its slow-burn pacing delivering a frigid fever dream perfect for fans of atmospheric survival horror. While its terror never fully transcends its generic roots, its visuals and isolationist dread leave a lingering chill.

Final Verdict: 2.5 out of 5.

A beautifully shot, well-acted thriller that nails atmosphere and isolation but stumbles on payoff. For fans of cold, brooding horror that thrives on mood over monster, The Occupant may still be worth a watch.

The Occupant will be released in theaters and on digital platforms on August 8th from DECAL.