Some horror movies aim to shock you right away, but others creep up on you, lingering like a bad dream. Come True falls into that second category. It blends science fiction and psychological horror, focusing more on atmosphere than on giving clear explanations. The movie has its flaws, and the ending might leave some viewers frustrated, but for most of its runtime, it’s a gripping experience that stands out from other recent horror films.

Anthony Scott Burns, the writer and director, is great at building atmosphere. Every scene feels like it’s somewhere between dreaming and waking, with cool blues, faded pinks, and deep shadows. The film takes its time, pulling you into its uneasy rhythm rather than pushing you forward. Instead of relying on standard jump scares, it creates a lasting sense of discomfort.

Julia Sarah Stone stands out as Sarah, a quiet teen who hardly sleeps and wants to avoid her troubled home. Stone doesn’t overplay Sarah’s loneliness. Instead, she shows it with tired expressions and awkward conversations. She is a strong lead in a story where nothing feels certain.

Hoping to find safety, Sarah joins an overnight sleep study led by mysterious researchers interested in dreams. What begins as a simple experiment slowly becomes much stranger as dark, tall figures start to appear in her nightmares, and possibly in real life too.

Burns wisely resists giving away too much too early. The recurring dream images are truly unsettling, especially the impossibly tall shapes that seem to emerge from the darkness. Instead of relying on sudden scares, the film creates dread through suggestion, letting viewers imagine the worst. It shows that horror can be most powerful when it relies on silence rather than loud moments.

A lot of the film’s impact also comes from its impressive sound design and music. The electronic soundtrack has a pulsing, dreamlike quality reminiscent of 1980s synth music, but it doesn’t just rely on nostalgia. Together with the hypnotic visuals, it creates an experience that really pulls you in and stays with you.

Come True sometimes struggles to balance its emotional story with its broader themes. The relationship between Sarah and the sleep researcher Jeremy, played softly by Landon Liboiron, feels a bit incomplete. The film hints at a close bond but doesn’t fully explore it, so some later twists don’t have as much impact as they might.

I can see why the film’s ending may split viewers; some, like me, will appreciate how bold it is, while others may think it detracts from the earlier mystery. Whether you enjoy it depends on how much you like open-ended stories and surprises. Even if the ending isn’t perfect, it doesn’t ruin the strong atmosphere Burns builds in the rest of the film.

In the end, Come True succeeds because it understands that fear isn’t only about monsters. Sometimes it’s about being exhausted, feeling isolated, or realising our minds have places we shouldn’t visit. The film is beautifully crafted and full of atmosphere, rewarding patient viewers and making you want to watch it again.

If you enjoyed Come True, try:

• It Follows (2014)
• Under the Skin (2013)
• Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

IMDB