Honey Bunch review
A slow burn that leads to a sizzling reveal.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Honey Bunch
Directed by Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer
Written by Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer
Starring Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie, Julian Richings, Jesse LaVercombe, Sarah Kolasky, Kate Dickie, India Brown and Jason Isaacs
Honey Bunch Review
Shudder’s 2026 is off to an impressive start. While there may still be some questions surrounding the number of original films hitting the horror streamer these days, there is no denying that the service began the year with two strong releases in a row. Mother of Flies, the latest from the Adams Family, dropped in January. February has brought us Honey Bunch. When you weed out the films that no longer debut on Shudder itself…they’ve turned very strongly towards short theatrical windows for their “original” content…both films would have ranked at or near the top of 2025’s release efforts. Maybe they’re figuring things out. Time will tell.
We’re still seeing “exclusive” movies like The Mortuary Assistant hit theaters before making their way to Shudder. Even if they leave something to be desired quality wise. Shudder will become the streaming home for The Mortuary Assistant soon enough. There’s nothing new about that setup. Mother of Flies and Honey Bunch each debuted directly on the streamer as Shudder “originals”. The two distinctions have always existed…we’re just seeing more “originals” given that theatrical run too. Late Night with the Devil, Good Boy, Hell House LLC: Lineage, The Ugly Stepsister, The Rule of Jenny Pen, Oddity, Azrael…the list will only grow.
Which leaves these Shudder Originals that debut direct to streaming in an interesting spot. You’re first thought would be…well they must not be as good as the ones that head to theaters first. But that isn’t always the case. Honey Bunch and Mother of Flies are a lot better than Hell House LLC: Lineage. Maybe it’s a question of what they think will have broader appeal. Azrael and The Rule of Jenny Pen have bigger star power in their cast than, say, The Dead Thing. But the Dead Thing was a better movie…even with a direct to Shudder release.
Good Boy seemed like a good bet for a box office return…and it was. The Ugly Stepsister scored Shudder’s first ever Oscar Nomination (for Hair and Makeup). That wouldn’t have happened without being sent to theaters first. There are probably a few different methods to the madness at play here. It just means we see less originals debuting on Shudder than ever before.
Which brings us to Honey Bunch. When you take all of the previous thoughts into account…it makes sense why Honey Bunch wasn’t afforded a theatrical window. It has some faces you’ll recognize…but not “bankable stars”. It wasn’t likely to pull awards attention to any particular facet of its production. There is no built in audience like there would be for the fifth Hell House movie. And nothing about the premise suggests a windfall of cash if you plopped it in theaters nationwide. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good movie. Honey Bunch is a very good movie. Unfortunately, we can’t really talk about why.
That’s the nature of a non-spoiler review. Sometimes the story being discussed takes such a fascinating turn that it precludes commenting on it…even when it’s the best thing about the movie. Honey Bunch has one of those turns. I hesitate to call it a twist because it’s less of a shocking revelation and more about gaining a full understanding of a situation. And it’s good. For roughly half the movie we’re watching a slow burn story about a woman struggling to remember her life before an accident. It’s well made and a bit boring…but it does cool things visually as her memories begin to return. She’s experiencing them as if she’s walked in on them…like a third party viewing an event for the first time. It lets the movie do some neat stuff while it waits to explain itself in more detail.
Diana (Grace Glowicki) is the woman who lost her memory. Her husband Homer (real life husband Ben Petrie) takes her to a secluded trauma center to get the help she needs. As Diana begins to remember…she begins to suspect that her relationship with her loving husband hasn’t been as great as he says it’s been. At this point in the story…you pretty much think you have Honey Bunch pegged. It’s going to be about how the seemingly doting husband has a dark secret and unlocking it will put Diana in danger. We even get a glimpse of Homer having a strange conversation about all this with Jason Isaac’s character…a father who brought his daughter to the center for the same kind of therapy. They clearly know more than we do…and Diana is desperate to figure out what.
That’s where Honey Bunch turns into a surprising and original film. It doesn’t follow any expected beats. There is something going on here…it’s true. It just isn’t what you think. It’s better. There are obviously questions about Diana’s mental health. Honey Bunch could have simply twisted the story to a different expected outcome…that the danger is all in her head. But it doesn’t. It’s better. While we can’t talk about what the story becomes here…I can tell you that you should fire up Shudder and give it a look for yourself. The first half is slow, it’s true. But the second half provides that joy of discovery and payoffs well worth the time invested. A story that seemed to be one thing is actually several more. And it’s presented in a way that keeps you thinking, and feeling, until the credits roll.
Scare Value
It’s always a bit tough to review movies that you want to discuss from a perspective that you can’t spoil. Honey Bunch is that kind of movie. Once the narrative lets you in on what’s happening…it’s a fantastic piece of business. Grace Glowicki gives a standout performance as Diana. You won’t realize how good she is until the movie lets you in on its secret. It makes you consider characters from different perspectives than you initially thought to…and struggle to decide who’s right…or what right even means in this case. Shudder’s 2026 is off to a strong, if slow, start.
3.5/5
Honey Bunch Link
Streaming on Shudder
