Pet (2016)

Pet is the kind of thriller that sneaks up on you: it starts like a grim, claustrophobic captivity story, then steadily tightens into something far more psychologically charged, where every conversation feels like a trap being set. Carles Torrens directs with a nasty little precision, keeping the suspense humming in cramped spaces and letting dread build not through jump scares, but through shifting power and uneasy intimacy. Dominic Monaghan and Ksenia Solo commit fully, turning what could’ve been a pulpy premise into an engrossing duel of obsession, fear, and control that keeps you leaning forward. It is undeniably brutal and not for the squeamish, but if you like horror-thrillers that actually have teeth and aren’t afraid to surprise you, this one earns your attention.

Pet is clearly aiming for a nasty little psychological thriller about obsession and captivity, with a few “gotcha” turns meant to flip the power dynamic and keep you uneasy. The problem is that the script leans so hard on escalating reversals that it starts to feel strained and occasionally implausible, and the pacing can drag between shock beats rather than building genuine dread. It’s also pretty heavy on grisly violence and a slightly exploitative vibe, so if you’re hoping for a smart, character-driven horror film, this may feel more mean-spirited than satisfying. That said, the small cast commits and there are moments of tension that work—just don’t go in expecting the twists to land cleanly or the premise to deepen beyond its central “person in a cage” setup.