We had already reviewed the movie last year (click HERE to read it), but this is an updated review that also covers the Blu-Ray release coming out by Toy Robot. There might be some parts from the original review but have at it!

(2025)
Directed by Daniel DelPurgatorio
Starring Kue Lawrence, Corbin Bernsen, Giorgia Whigham, Kai Cech, Paul Soter, Pierson Fode, Miya Cech, Max Malas

In this day and age, it’s not too often when a movie comes about that blows your expectations, especially when you think you know where the story is going. This film is one of them. The film starts off with a very young boy who obviously has issues making friends and is just basically an outcast for no apparent reason. His parents are about to shove him off to summer camp for the first time, which he is not too happy about.

Once he gets there, it is just as awkward and even terrifying as he thought it would be. Especially when he says he doesn’t want to go in the water, due to a previous close call in a swimming pool. At night, we hear the typical “scary story” from the counselors, which sets the tone for the rest of the film. Is the story true? Is there someone lurking in the shadows of the camp?

That’s it far as I’m going to go with the story because this is one you need to go into as blind as you can. There will be a few times where you think you’ve gotten it figured out. But just keep watching.

Now, the above was from my original review of the film when I first saw it on a streaming service. Now that it has come out on Blu-ray from Toy Robot, I feel I need to add a few more thoughts. This is still a spoiler free review because it really is something you want to know very little about going in, and to stay with it. Upon my second viewing, I found myself getting more in touch with Morgon, our main character. Being somewhat of an outcast myself in my youth, I could feel the pain in him as he tried to make friends, only to be shunned like the plague. Powerful emotions there that quickly brought me back to my youth.

Having one of the most original stories that I’d see in quite some time, it immediately became one of my favorites of the year, as well as making sure I told everyone that I knew to watch it, but again, don’t read anything about it. Writer Andy Greskoviak, who had recently written the film Black Friday (2021), gets major kudos for not only coming up with something new, but in a way that sets you up expecting one thing, and then it turns left. And then turns left again.

The cast, which is mainly young kids, do an exceptional job here, really feeling like they aren’t acting, but are on some reality show at a summer camp. Kue Lawrence plays Morgan, who is the one carrying most of the film since it is his story that we, the viewer, are following. Lawrence is so believable as this awkward little kid that we feel sorry for him in the beginning, but as he starts to build some friendships and even has fun a few times, we feel that as well. That goes for the rest of the young cast, such as Kai Ceck, Mas Malas, and Winston Vengapally.

Paul Soter is the head of the camp, not only having other work there to be worrying about, also has to make sure his “knucklehead” staff of counselors are behaving as well. Soter is one of the members of the Broken Lizard comedy team, the ones responsible for the Super Trooper movies. This is a much different role for him and he nails it.

The score by Nicholas Elert is fantastic. Very moody and atmospheric, but with plenty of repeating motifs that really connect with the film as it’s playing.

This is director DelPurgatorio, first feature film. I first became aware of him over a decade ago with this short film Other (2012), which was just incredible. But now with Marshmellow, hopefully we will see more feature films. On the new Blu-ray release, we get not only a commentary with him, along with actors Kue Lawrence and Kai Ceck, that go through some of the secrets behind the filming, and a lot of fun stories. Not too much on the technical side though, though fun to listen to. There is a great chat with DelPurgatorio being interviewed on the Macabre Daily podcast, then another one with writer Andy Greskoviak. Then DelPurgatorio is on another podcast, The Rad Pack Podcast, along with actor Dylan Friedman. While they don’t go into any spoilers, I’d still not watch them, or any of the extras, until you’ve watched the film first.

The disc also comes with a deleted scene, some behind-the-scenes photos, the script pages (which is actually kind of cool), storyboards, and two short films by DelPurgatorio: Other (2012) and Body(s) (2015), which happens to co-star a friend of the Krypt, Aaron Christensen!

Seek this film out. Don’t read anything about it. Just watch it. And then go back after about a week and rewatch it again. This is one of those films that with each viewing, you pick up on things you missed the first time around. That is a very creative story that can do that. Highly recommended.