My quick rating – 5.4/10. It Feeds tells the story of a young girl who insists a malevolent entity is feeding on her soul, and a clairvoyant therapist (Ashley Greene) who must confront her own personal demons to save the child before it’s too late. Shawn Ashmore steps into the role of the anguished father, trying desperately to protect his daughter from a terror he doesn’t understand.
There’s definitely a solid foundation here, and fans of supernatural horror will find It Feeds an entertaining enough watch for a slow night. Director Chad Archibald seems to have drawn some personal inspiration, especially with how the story focuses on trauma, fear, and the need to confront the past to heal. There’s an emotional undercurrent that hints at deeper meaning, but unfortunately, the execution doesn’t fully land. While the film flirts with heavy themes, I didn’t think it dug deep enough to make much of an impact beyond surface-level scares.
And to be fair, the scares are there. It Feeds absolutely nails its jump scares, using effective timing and unsettling imagery, especially with the rotting demon creature that stalks the young girl. Visually, the film is impressive for its more indie-level budget. Smart camera work heightens the atmosphere, with several scenes genuinely capturing that creeping fear you’d expect from a bigger studio horror. Honestly, if you didn’t know better, you might assume this had a much larger budget than it did.
The trouble is, there’s not a lot here that feels new. The movie heavily echoes Insidious in tone, pacing, and even some of its thematic elements, although it thankfully avoids feeling like a direct ripoff. It’s more of a “safe play” horror movie, following a well-worn path without much risk or surprise. You can see every plot beat coming from a mile away.
Pacing is another issue. After a strong, creepy start, the film loses momentum and just sort of exists until the inevitable climax. There’s very little character development to latch onto, and while the cast does a decent job with what they’re given, the script doesn’t give them much room to grow. You’re mostly just watching familiar horror tropes play out, supported by moments of cool imagery and a few solid jolts.
Also, like many horror movies, It Feeds demands a pretty massive suspension of disbelief. Characters make baffling decisions, the police are basically useless, and there’s a complete lack of explanation about the entity or its motivations. If you can accept that this is a ride without a seatbelt—or a roadmap—you’ll probably have an okay time.
Overall, It Feeds is a decent one-time watch for horror fans who don’t mind style over substance. It’s well-shot, has some genuinely creepy moments, but doesn’t do anything memorable enough to stand out in a crowded genre.
Amazon, along with these streamers, currently carry this flick.