‘Self-Help’ Review: A Heartfelt and Unpredictable Horror Effort [Chattanooga Film Festival]
I first discovered fraternal filmmakers Erik and Carson Bloomquist when I critiqued their breakout feature, She Came from the Woods, for Dread Central in 2023, and I have been a fan of their output ever since. Like their last film, She Came from the Woods, Self-Help, is both smart and unpredictable, not to mention the core performances are effective and the writing is razor-sharp. The picture benefits from an ever-present baseline of unease and even delivers some insightful commentary on mental health and the human condition along the way.
Self-Help follows Olivia (Landry Bender) as she, along with her friend Sophie (Madison Lintz), audits a cult-like self-actualization group. Olivia is only participating at the behest of her mother, Rebecca (Amy Hargreaves), who is romantically linked to the program’s enigmatic leader, Curtis (Jake Weber). The more Olivia learns about the group, the more alarmed she becomes. But with everyone around her convinced that the group is perfectly safe, she sticks around for the long haul against her better judgment.
The Bloomquist brothers are smart screenwriters with a knack for dreaming up clever narrative twists, and Self-Help sees them doing plenty of that. With that in mind, I will avoid going into great detail about some of the finer plot points. This is absolutely a case where the less you know going in, the better.
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Self-Help marks a departure for the brothers. Their previous two films, She Came from the Woods and Founder’s Day, are firmly rooted in the slasher genre. Self-Help, however, is something different. There are slasher tropes at play here, but that’s not the main event. We have a masked antagonist pop up, and there are a couple of gruesome kills contained within, but this isn’t just a rehash of what we’ve seen previously. Self-Help is a winding effort that proves that a staggering body count is absolutely not a prerequisite for an effective horror picture.
The brothers more than make up for the absence of a sizable body count by serving up a couple of really gruesome sequences likely to appeal to those partial to viscera. One scene (involving ocular trauma) is so grotesque that I still can’t quite shake it from my brain. Nice work, guys.
Bloodshed aside, Self-Help maintained my interest throughout thanks to its persistent unpredictability. Though it’s pretty intuitive to determine who the central threat is, learning their motivations and end game is not nearly so easy. Each time I thought I had put everything together, I would quickly realize I only had a piece of the puzzle. As the narrative progressed, I repeatedly found myself surprised by the way things eventually played out.
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I have to hand it to the Brothers Bloomquist for smartly plotting their narrative with enough misdirection to keep us guessing until the end. The final reveal is satisfying, smart, and well-supported.
Speaking of misdirection, there is a flashback sequence early on that is integral to the narrative but not in any of the ways I anticipated. Better yet, the scene in question leads to a pitch-perfect payoff by paving the way for an epic one-liner. Great setup and delivery.
In addition to a smart screenplay filled with twists and turns, the flick also serves up some intuitive commentary on mental health and the human condition. Self-Help isn’t grief-informed filmmaking like Hereditary or The Lodge, but it certainly has plenty to say about both mental health and trauma.
One prevalent theme that resonates pertains to the dangers of unprocessed trauma. We see multiple characters attempting to make a clean break and start fresh. But in each case, they are utterly unable to outrun their damage. That messaging is well-played and never comes across as heavy-handed or overly obvious. However, it’s quite true that no one can outrun their trauma. It will always be right there waiting for you.
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All things considered, Self-Help is a great time at the movies. The script is well-written; the narrative is unpredictable; and the use of misdirection kept me guessing from start to finish. I’m already looking forward to rewatching this one down the road.
If you’re keen to check the flick out after my rave review, you’re in for a treat. However, you may have to wait a spell. The picture enjoyed its world premiere at the Chattanooga Film Festival on June 22, 2025, but there’s no word just yet on distribution. Keep an eye out for more Self-Help festival screenings down the road and eventual updates on distro if you’re eager to take the flick in.
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Self-Help
Summary
The Bloomquist brother’s have done it again. ‘Self-Help’ is a witty horror picture sure to keep you guessing until the end.
Categorized: Reviews
