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Saccharine

Play trailer 1:41 Poster for Saccharine R May 2026 1h 53m Horror Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 76 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Hana, a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorized by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.
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Saccharine

Saccharine

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Critics Consensus

Tapping into anxieties latent in an era of weight loss drugs, Saccharine's insights into nuanced themes come with a lot of empty calories but its gross-out scares sure do hit the spot.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times 5d
4/5
James grounds the horror in relatable experience rather than spectacle. The film burrows deep into the intestines of body dysmorphia and beauty fascism. Go to Full Review
Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald Jul 8
3/5
Francis is convincing enough – an intense portrait in rising panic – and Danielle Macdonald supplies a welcome dash of sanity as her best friend, Josie, who’s trying to talk her into getting help. Go to Full Review
Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle May 26
2/5
It’s like Jillian Michaels directing an adaptation of Stephen King’s Thinner, and even some good scares can’t disguise the bitter taste it might leave in your mouth. Go to Full Review
Tomás Andrés Guerrero Sensacine 9h
3.5/5
Although its script bites off more than it can chew...Midori Francis 's magnificent performance and a top-notch sensory atmosphere sustain a film that will undoubtedly prompt viewers to reflect. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
John Serba Decider 3d
Saccharine’s grossness is effective, but ultimately overshadows its lowercase-s substance. Go to Full Review
Luis Martínez El Mundo (Spain) 4d
3/5
Natalie Erika James redefines the rules of horror cinema to skillfully expose the aesthetic obsessions of our time. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Vincent R May 29 A very interesting premise albeit confusing and disturbing at times. It's a difficult watch for people who struggle with obesity and weight issues as it really forces you to look at society's portrayal of how obese people are treated in the modern age. Also very interesting to see how taking diet pills and strange ingredients for the sake of lust. See more jesse v May 28 a body horror movie about ozempic and gluttony. you could say it's thematically adjacent to Slanted, but replaces the colorful comedy with the mood from The Plague. There isn't much subgenre here that balances the psychological body horror theme m. I wished the parents were more involved than just a quick cameo and the main character actually does something else than eat. The lesbian relationship storyline was completely unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. I'm only giving props for the acting and cinematography and prop work. See more Jamie May 26 Damn good if you ask me. I’d give it a solid B to B+. Have nothing bad to say about it. See more Tom B May 25 Crude & disgusting. Difficult to watch. See more Marlon May 25 Boring and not scary at all See more metalliphil May 23 Interesting take on eating disorders and body self image w solid effects - I appreciate that the film did not play it safe and explored less conventional routes in the story and the ending See more Read all reviews
Saccharine

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Movie Info

Synopsis Hana, a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorized by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.
Director
Natalie Erika James
Producer
Natalie Erika James, Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw
Screenwriter
Natalie Erika James
Distributor
Independent Film Company
Production Co
Carver Films
Rating
R (Sexuality|Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Disturbing Content|Grisly Images|Language)
Genre
Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 22, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 53m