After moving to the countryside, Millie (Alison Brie) and her commitment-phobic longtime boyfriend, aspiring musician Tim (Dave Franco), fall into a cave while hiking near their new home. Tim decides to drink from a mysterious pool, which has immediate and terrifying effects.

Starring a real-life couple, the movie serves as a straightforward metaphor exploring the push and pull of entering into a fully committed relationship. While Millie is looking forward to settling into the quieter country life with her burgeoning teaching career at her feet, Tim still holds onto his idealistic music ambition. This slight discord between the pair makes their coming together all the more difficult as they wrestle with their commitment issues.

Shot in Melbourne, the movie has all the hallmarks of a small-budget horror, which delivers a high concept in a solid production. The visuals are rich and dark, with great use of shadow and sound. The leads’ chemistry is palpable, as is their struggle against co-dependency. Unlike Bring Her to Me (2023), the supernatural rules of the predicament are clearly laid out, so that true horror dawns once the fate of our pair is understood. Like The Substance (2024), the use of practical effects is much more effective than the slightly unconvincing CG shots which evoke unintentional comedy at pivotal, climactic points. It is refreshing to see a solid vision that delivers a pointed statement which is sure to make an impact, like a good social commentary should.

Verdict: A darkly humorous and scary look at a couple’s teething period.

4.5 stars.