Anything for Jackson – Shudder Review (4/5)

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON is a new horror movie on Shudder about the lengths some people will go to for love. Even making a deal with the devil and taking the lives of other people. A brutal mindf*ck that works extremely well with a character-driven story. Read our full Anything for Jackson review here!

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON is a new horror movie on Shudder that packs a big punch with a small cast and a simple story. In essence, it’s about the things we will do to get back a loved one – even when this is impossible because that person has died. However, when you will stop at nothing, a deal with the devil clearly becomes an option.

This movie shows us the kind of situation where we human beings can convince ourselves that the end justifies the means.

Continue reading our Anything for Jackson movie review below.

Character-driven horror at its best

What I really loved about Anything for Jackson is the fact that it’s basically a brutal mindf*ck that works exceptionally well with a character-driven story. Also, the fact that the main characters are older instead of being young made for an added creepiness.

Somehow, it feels like they should know better and they just decide that they’re going all in!

A young woman is kidnapped by an older couple because they want to place their grandson’s spirit into her unborn child. Simple enough on paper, but not exactly your everyday kind of event.

Small powerful cast

Due to the nature of this story, there are only a handful of characters in this movie. Don’t worry though, they deliver plenty of content made for your horror-loving heart. Also, yes, we get all of the classic signs of the devil being at work; People not being in control of themselves and doing grotesque things. Being trapped in a nightmarish loop is another “fun” detail.

The runtime is just 97 minutes, which also makes for tight storytelling and adding to the weight of the punches thrown.

Sheila McCarthy and Julian Richings star as the older married couple attempting to get back the spirit of their grandson, Jackson (hence the title, obviously). You might know Sheila McCarthy from Season 1 of The Umbrella Academy or Still/Born. She’s also been in blockbuster hits such as The Day After Tomorrow and Die Hard 2.

The pregnant woman is portrayed by Konstantina Mantelos and this appears to be her first big role in a feature film. She does an excellent job, so I’m sure it won’t be the last. Also, she’s been on TV series and in a TV movie, so she’s certainly staying busy.

Watch Anything for Jackson on Shudder

Justin G. Dyck is the director of Anything for Jackson with Keith Cooper as the screenwriter. Both have worked on quite a lot of Christmas movies prior to making this horror movie, so I’m sure it was a welcomed distraction. I personally would definitely not have guessed that these two usually make Christmas movies.

In fact, I expected to find a lot of horror movies on their resume and not Christmas movies as well as other TV movies such as Love in Harmony Village and A Very Country Wedding. But hey, I’m sure you learn from everything you do and it’s all a process. Whatever brought them to make Anything for Jackson certainly worked.

This is a very accomplished horror movie that works with well-defined characters and simply – but very efficient – horror devices. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the more sinister and supernatural horror movies.

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON premieres on Shudder on December 3, 2020, in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.

Details

Director: Justin G. Dyck
Writer: Keith Cooper
Stars: Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos