HELLCAT is a survival horror-thriller that world premieres at Fantasia 2025. While this is one of the best genre film festivals in the world (in my opinion and experience), this year has been an exceptionally great experience.

With Hellcat, I didn’t know what to expect, but it delivered something out of the ordinary. With a runtime of 91 minutes, it even manages to keep a tight pace and deliver a very full story. One that surprised and amazed me. In other words, you’ll want to watch this movie!

Hellcat begins with a classic horror opening: A young woman, Lena (Dakota Gorman), wakes up in an unfamiliar place. She soon realizes that it’s a moving camper trailer, and everything from the constant movements to the sounds of everything shaking and shifting is confusing.

Also, she has a strong and painful wound on her left arm.

Then a voice comes booming in through a speaker. It’s the driver, and he’s warning her that she’s been infected with something and must get help within just one hour. He insists that he’s helping her, but he also very clearly has her trapped in this locked-up camper.

In every normal sense of the word, she has been kidnapped. Hellcat shows every woman’s nightmare, but Lena is the kind of woman who fights back. She goes over everything in the camper, but clearly, the driver has prepped this location for someone to be trapped.

For the record, I say “every woman”, though I’m sure not all women fear this. Except for fans of true crime, who will know it does happen. I don’t expect quite as many men to have this as an actual fear, but I could be wrong?!

Unsure what to believe, Lena recognizes that something is very wrong with her. It’s dreadfully painful when she attempts to touch the wound, and something is visibly coursing through her veins, heading towards her heart.

According to the driver, it must not reach her heart, so she has to stay calm to slow down the infection.

While staying almost entirely inside this camper, the story of Hellcat plays out. This story will keep you guessing as it progresses and escalates.

We do see the driver, and hear several voices as both the radio is on and phone calls take place. Also, we see Lena having flashbacks and experiences that seem to manifest and transform the camper. Is this all in her mind or part of the supposed infection?

You’ll have to watch Hellcat to find out. However, trust me, you’ll want to watch this movie, and it will deliver answers. Maybe not what you expect, but I enjoyed both the ride there and the ultimate conclusion of the story.

Dakota Gorman is the beating heart of Hellcat and has the most screentime, but I also have to acknowledge the rest of this cast and crew. Making a movie that plays out in a single location is never easy, and making a great movie in this way shows immense skill.

Plus, regardless of the location, I just loved the plot of Hellcat. It works its audience with its twists and turns as the survival horror escalates in many different ways.

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