Ithaqua
Filmmaker Casey Walker‘s Grimmfest 2026 film Ithaqua begins in 1821 in the barren lands surrounding a Canadian fur-trading post and fort. Hope dwindles as a small enclave of settlers and natives nears starvation. An American mercenary and scout is tasked with finding the larger native population to ensure the eclectic group of foreign colonizers survives the winter. But something ancient and evil looms over their journey, and it is closer than they can ever imagine. Inspired by Native American wendigo lore and H. P. Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos, Ithaqua is here to terrorize and tantalize genre fans.
Halfway through, the film takes a sharp genre turn from frontier survival drama to, well, I won’t spoil it. But holy hell, it’s a bold choice. Based on Walker’s story, with co-writing by Peter Scott Vicaire and Pascal Trottier, Ithaqua suddenly- the audience is not simply on edge; we are completely shocked and twice as engaged. They still manage to inject much-needed levity into the dialogue to break the tension when called for. It is a skillfully woven story, to say the least.
Ithaqua’s cast is phenomenal. Performances from Pamela Matthews, Peter Millard, and Aaron Poole deliver unforgettable performances. Michael Pitt plays the town’s power-hungry Magistrate. His smarmy attitude transfixes as it twists and turns into cinematic chaos. Kevin Durand is brilliant as the proud Lieutenant working under Pitt. His arc is simply delicious. Not quite enemies-to-lovers, but we’ll take it. Leenah Robinson is truly spectacular as Cole’s native partner, Ahnung. Likely the most grounded character, she is compelling as hell. Luke Hemsworth delivers a perfectly flawed hero archetype as Cole Franklin. You are genuinely rooting for him from beginning to end.
As soon as I saw Blitz/Berlin did the music, I got excited. They never let me down. Bryn McCashin‘s sweeping cinematography sets the stage for vast, cold isolation. Practical FX and make-up teams deserve all the accolades. From native folklore to cannibalism to terrifyingly curated, strategically placed flashbacks, ITHAQUA hypnotizes the viewer with canon breadcrumbs, dread, and dazzling performances. With world-building akin to Sinners, the script dives headlong into darkness and never leaves. I respect the hell out of that.
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