TERROR FILMS RELEASING Brings Psychological Scares With “SCHISM” (2025)

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

Psychological thrillers are often just as terrifying as the blood-soaked slashers that dominate horror cinema, sometimes even more so. A masked killer might lunge from the shadows and make us jump, but a story that claws its way into the mind and distorts perception can leave a deeper, longer-lasting scar. These movies do not simply scare us with what we see; they frighten us by forcing us to question what we think we know. Reality becomes fluid, trust evaporates, and every detail is suddenly suspect.

I recently had a chance to watch Terror Films Releasing & Thor Moreno’s new release, “Schism”. This movie thrives in an unsettling that utilizes on distortion, paranoia, and fractured truths, pulling its audience into a headspace that is as unstable as its protagonist’s.

“Schism” tells the story of Nola Riggs, portrayed with startling intensity by Cait Moira. Nola is a young woman grappling with mental illness while confined inside a psychiatric facility, a place that quickly reveals itself to be far more sinister than its sterile halls suggest. At its core, the movie is about one woman’s struggle to separate reality from hallucination, clarity from paranoia. Yet Moreno ensures that the audience experiences that struggle right alongside her. The narrative is not a clean, straightforward path as it bends and breaks, doubling back on itself in ways that confuse and unnerve. There are moments when it feels impossible to keep a firm grip on the story, and that is exactly the point. The confusion is part of the movie’s design, immersing the viewer in Nola’s fragmented psyche.

Cait Moira carries this movie with a performance that is both fearless and vulnerable. Her ability to swing between calmness, rage, confusion, and paranoia gives “Schism” its unpredictable heartbeat. One moment, her voice is steady, her gaze vacant, as though she is clinging to her sanity by the thinnest thread. The next, she erupts with sudden fury, her presence filling the room like a lightning strike. Then comes the paranoia with furtive glances, shifting posture, a tremor of dread that seeps into every gesture. Moira doesn’t play Nola as a collection of symptoms; she embodies the fragility and volatility of someone whose world is collapsing in on itself. Without her gripping performance, the movie’s deliberate disorientation might overwhelm the audience. Instead, she gives us something to hold onto, even as the floor constantly shifts beneath our feet.

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

The setting of the psychiatric facility amplifies this emotional whirlwind. Though Nola is not physically alone, the facility is designed and filmed in a way that magnifies isolation. Endless hallways stretch like mazes, sterile rooms feel more like cages, and even when other patients appear, they seem to emphasize her solitude rather than diminish it. The environment becomes an extension of Nola’s fractured state, a physical manifestation of her imprisonment both within the walls and within her own mind. The location is more than just a backdrop. The island and giant house it is a character, one that traps and suffocates as effectively as any antagonist. The small scenes of Nola walking through the house at night by candlelight are some of the most creepy moments in the movie. It leaves a lot to the audience’s imagination, without the filmmakers having to rely on simple, yet overused jump scares that most modern movies overuse.

Much of the movie’s dread comes from Moreno’s creative choices as writer and director. His filming style is deliberately claustrophobic, favoring shadows and disorienting perspectives. The camera lingers where it shouldn’t, blurs details we want to see clearly, and refuses to provide easy answers. Lighting is stark and unsettling, often suggesting hidden dangers lurking just beyond visibility. The writing mirrors this approach, scattering fragments of information without context, daring the viewer to assemble meaning from chaos. Moreno makes no attempt to coddle the audience. He wants us disoriented, frustrated, even paranoid, because those emotions mirror what Nola feels every step of the way.

The cinematography heightens that unease. Shots are composed with an almost suffocating intensity, trapping Nola in the frame as if the walls themselves are closing in. The pacing of edits mirrors the instability of the narrative that sometimes dragging in tense silence, other times cutting in jarring bursts that mimic mental collapse. Moreno and his cinematography team understand that fear is not only about what is seen but how it is seen. The visual design creates a constant sense of dread, where even stillness feels threatening.

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

While Cait Moira is the undeniable centerpiece, the supporting cast adds dimension to Nola’s fractured world. Annette Duffy, Hunter Phoenix, and Jesse Moreno populate the facility with presences that feel both familiar and menacing. They contribute to the movie’s atmosphere of mistrust every interaction leaves us wondering if these characters are allies, enemies, or figments of Nola’s imagination. Their performances avoid melodrama, instead adding subtle tension that keeps the audience guessing about everyone’s true intentions.

What makes “Schism” such a distinct experience is its willingness to be difficult. Many thrillers of this kind offer breadcrumbs, leading viewers toward a neatly wrapped conclusion. Moreno resists that temptation. He forces the audience into the same fractured headspace as his protagonist, letting confusion simmer until it becomes its own form of terror. At times, this approach can feel challenging, even alienating. Yet when the film’s threads finally begin to tie together, the payoff is powerful. The ending reframes everything that came before it, rewarding the audience for enduring the maze of uncertainty.

There is also an underlying darkness that lingers long after the movie ends. The sense of dread is not simply born from jump scares or sudden violence, but from the way the movie destabilizes the viewer. It is unnerving to realize how quickly trust can erode, how fragile perception can be, and how isolating the mind can become. “Schism” is not content with surface-level scares. It wants to haunt its audience on a deeper level, leaving them unsettled long after the credits roll.

Courtesy of Terror Films Releasing

In the end, “Schism” is a divisive horror movie, and that is by design. Some horror fans may find its twisting narrative frustrating, while others will appreciate its uncompromising dive into paranoia and disorientation. What cannot be denied is the craftsmanship at work. With Cait Moira delivering a powerhouse performance and Thor Moreno guiding the story with relentless tension, the movie succeeds in creating a psychological nightmare that feels both suffocating and strangely beautiful. For fans of horror that challenges perception and toys with the mind, “Schism” is more than worth the watch. It may not be universally loved, but it will not be easily forgotten.

Terror Films Releasing will premiere the movie across multiple platforms on September 5th, 2025, including Chilling, Scare Network TV, Kings of Horror, Watch Movies Now, Shocks & Docs, TFR’s official AVOD YouTube channel, and many more. Be sure to check out the movie for yourself on the official release date.

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!