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The Cycle

Play trailer Poster for The Cycle 2026 1h 51m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
When the body of a man missing for thirty-six years is discovered at the scene of a horrific crime, it's up to his estranged daughter to unravel his dark past.
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The Cycle

Critics Reviews

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Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News 5 days ago
3/4
“The Cycle” loads up on gore and some grossout scenes (those maggots gave me the heebie-jeebies) and keeps us on edge throughout, and then throws everything his limited budget can for a bloody, satisfying finale. Go to Full Review
Leslie Felperin Guardian Oct 20, 2026
2/5
It’s a shame that the hardcore creature-feature stuff is a letdown because the drama leading up to it isn’t bad. Go to Full Review
Katie Rife Inverse Oct 5, 2026
Based on his resume, you might not expect Jordan Downey to make a movie as deathly serious as The Cycle. But he’s done exactly that, and quite successfully so, with this grim and gruesome blend of serial-killer thriller and supernatural horror. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 16 hrs ago
4/5
...a movie that features an engaging mystery with a surprising emotional core and a go-for-the-jugular payoff that delivers in spades for horror fans. And all from a filmmaker with a genre-bending vision and the cinematic knowhow to pull it off. Go to Full Review
Erik Childress Movie Madness Podcast 1 day ago
3/4
What seems like a standard, if interesting, police procedural eventually becomes a worthy entry in a particular subgenre that has too often failed to develop new blood and thrills to its ancient mythology. Go to Full Review
Dan Tabor Cinapse 1 day ago
With The Cycle Downey has delivered a mind melter that manages to be both genuinely nasty and emotionally affecting, which is a combination I’m always happy to see. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Harper T @RT27545323 1 hr ago Went in with high expectations because of the hype but ended up being very underwhelmed See more Valik D @Valik 1 hr ago !!!!!!!!!!! See more Secret S @JHirsch 1 hr ago An agonizing slow-burn that never gets satisfyingly rewarded in the end with a messy third act. See more Zachary S @Zach154 1 hr ago The Cycle is the latest creature feature from Shudder, and honestly, I can’t help but feel like this is a movie that deserved to be experienced in theaters. The practical effects and overall creature design are absolutely incredible—some of the best I’ve seen in years—and there’s something so refreshing about seeing this level of craftsmanship in a modern horror film. My biggest recommendation is to go into this one as blind as possible, because the less you know going in, the more fun you’ll have with it. If you’re a fan of horror or creature features, The Cycle is definitely one you’ll want to check out. See more Nick N @RT99031764 8 hrs ago Superb new take on this part of the horror genre. I loved how the plot unfolded in layers. Not too slowly either. Excellent practical makeup effects that we don't see in horror very often these days. Stephen King's recommendation was spot on. See more bee A @arnoldtoynbee 9 hrs ago The beginning was pretty good. I was a bit disappointed when it turned into a creature movie. I actually wanted an FBI investigation story. See more Read all reviews
The Cycle

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Movie Info

Synopsis When the body of a man missing for thirty-six years is discovered at the scene of a horrific crime, it's up to his estranged daughter to unravel his dark past.
Director
Jordan Downey
Screenwriter
Jordan Downey, Kevin Stewart
Distributor
Shudder
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 23, 2026
Runtime
1h 51m
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