Grin

The dreaded boardgame of horror is what Grin is all about. And it’s not short on the shocks at the start of the film. Even as the game is chucked out it yet still manages to cause a death.

‘A few years later’ Ava (Maddison Allard) is off to a family reunion that she really doesn’t want to attend. Present will be her siblings Joe (Samuel Lane), Ben (Luke Rhodi) and mother Agnes (Virginia Gilchrist). There’s also the hyper presence of their new stepfather Lucien (Simon Davies), who appears to have alienated everyone but Agnes.

There’s obvious tension between everyone around the table and some digs at the US based Ava who (again) hasn’t brought her family with her.

To try and relieve some of this Lucien gets Grin board game out. It’s a wooden quite elaborate board governed by strict rules. Writing their names on the game seals them in and with their hidden secrets, this is where the fun starts.

Directed by Lawrence Fowler there’s not a lot here that’s new but it is done very well. He coaxes good performances from the cast dealing as is he is with characters that for various reasons aren’t easy to take to.

As well as horror board game this is also about family secrets and cover up. Each has a part in it and the demon, sensing sin, sets about them, one by one.

This is at times a by the number’s horror film. Nevertheless, there’s not that much to quibble with Grin as it keeps the viewers interest and turns into an effective shocker

The demon itself looks vaguely like The Joker with horns and is a bit of a disappointing when put up against the good SFX.

Grin had its world premiere at London FrightFest 2026.