The theme for today’s Halloween Horrors 2025 post is “Animated Horror Films”. The topic of this introduction is not. 

If you’ve followed the Halloween Horrors series the last few years, then you’ve surely read all about how today’s contributor is one of my older friends. You’ve read the accounts of us gathering together in someone’s parents’ living room to watch films such as Evil Dead 2 and Candyman, or using our jobs at the local movie theater to watch all the newest releases for free. Naturally, we exploited that privilege to sneak in all of our friends as well. It really was a wonderful time, short-lived as it was. 

Although the film being discussed released when we were both in our early 40s’, today’s entry serves as something of an unintentional trip down memory lane; a flashback to those more innocent days when our biggest worries were SAT scores and deciding whose house we were hanging out come the weekend. (It was usually the guy that lived at a Civil War fort. No, really!) I know that I was reliving a few of those memories myself while reading the following piece, but as I was actually there for some of the moments mentioned, it’s pretty easy for me to relate. 

While those days have long passed and most of those friends long since disappeared, I like to believe that the light-hearted communal spirit of those days still lives on in this series. Just like those nights so many years ago, we still find ourselves surrounded by friends to help make the experience that much more unforgettable. 

“To Your Last Death” Review

By Christina Whissen

 

For most of my adult life, my horror viewing habits have gravitated towards those that cause fear and dread. The thing that lurks in the dark, the killer beside you, the evil within. Movies that are most effectively viewed in complete darkness, alone, knees pulled up to your chest so nothing grabs you from beneath the couch. Stories that slowly ate away from the inside, crawling through your mind, whispering from every dark corner.

That’s not how I started watching horror, though. My first intentional forays into the horror genre were gorefests, watched while crowded into a room of rambunctious teens. Commentating over each other on the stupidity of the victims, reveling in the gore, and finding a mindless escape from the confusion of puberty and the pressures of looming adulthood. These movies were a break from reality, often leaving little impression.

That’s a completely different viewing experience that I didn’t realize I missed until I began looking for a film to watch for this year’s Halloween Horrors piece. As stated in past pieces, my horror knowledge is limited, that of a casual fan. My knowledge of animated horror was even more limited. Heavy Metal, maybe? Some kids movies? I was stuck. Until I reached out to a group of friends for ideas…and the resulting conversation reminded me of those early viewings. After many suggestions and a lot of discussion, I was left with a handful of options. I wasn’t sure if  To Your Last Death was the best choice, but I knew it would be an interesting one. 

To Your Last Death is a 2019 animated slasher. The story follows Miriam DeKalb, the daughter of a capital-B “Bad Guy,” Cyrus DeKalb.  He’s not just an arms dealer turned corrupt politician, but also an abusive parent and narcissistic egomaniac with what could easily be described as an evil lair. He’s an over-the-top bad guy and exists primarily so the audience will root for Miriam. The audience meets Miriam after things have already gone to hell, then learns how she got there through a series of flashbacks. In short, she is trying to balance all the sins of her father by doing good, but he has other plans. He’s dying and gathers his children for one last family meeting…and their doom. Cyrus leads each offspring into a trap designed to drown them in irony. Well, he leads them to a death that echoes whatever perceived failings or insults he associates with them. Miriam loses her family, but survives to take the fall.

This alone could be the arc of an entire film, yet it’s only the first act. Enter the Gamemaster, an extra-dimensional pit boss taking bets on the outcome of the whole situation in some other space populated by beings of some sort. Of course, it’s not fun just watching it play out – the father knows what’s coming but the kids are at a disadvantage. At least until the Gamemaster offers to send Miriam back for a redo, armed with the knowledge of what happens. Miriam enters her own personal “Groundhog Day of Horror” and attempts to rewrite the outcome. 

All of this is presented in a hand-drawn animation style that puts me in mind of Archer, or maybe a comic book with each panel brought to life. It’s an approach to horror that I haven’t seen before and frees the creators to play up the gore in ways not possible with live action. However, the stylized look does at times limit the impact of the carnage. A pencil-and-ink head twirling down the screen just doesn’t have the same impact. 

The other place where the film soars is in the casting. Dani Lennon, who plays Miriam and may be unfamiliar to many, delivers an excellent performance. The DeKalb siblings—Ethan (Damien Haas), Kelsy (Florence Hartigan), and Collin (Benjamin Siemon)—might be less recognizable, but do a good job at bringing their characters to life as well. The supporting cast is a bit more well-known. Morena Baccarin lends her charisma to the powerful Gamemaster, while Ray Wise embodies his signature villainous style as the patriarch of the DeKalb family. However, perhaps the most recognizable cast member is the narrator, voiced by William Shatner.

Unfortunately, those are the best parts of the film and you can get those from the trailer. While the story is not bad, it’s also a bit of pieced together ideas from other franchises. Cyrus’ game is a fairly clear reference to Jigsaw’s antics, while the other space has echoes of the cosmic beings in a Marvel storyline. Even the time travel component plays out like an exceptionally deranged Groundhog Day. That’s not to say the story is not enjoyable, but it primarily serves as a delivery vehicle for the jokes and gore. 

All said, it’s important to note that I didn’t come to this movie looking to make a scholarly examination. I had no plans for deep observation of the nuances. This viewing was conceived and intended as a return to those old ways I watched horror. A social viewing, with laughter and commentary, camaraderie and high spirits. And, now that we’re adults, bottled spirits. It was a viewing for the sheer pleasure of being with friends and escaping our realities. 

As far as that goes, To Your Last Death was both an interesting and perfect choice. Would I watch it in a theater? No. Would I watch it alone? Maybe on an airplane. With friends, though, this is the perfect balance. A story that is easy to follow, a few jokes for laughs, and an interesting style that draws the eye. 

 Image Credits: To Your Last Death (Quiver Distribution, 2019)