From Lionsgate Films, coming to theaters October 29, 2025, Anniversary is a Political Thriller that will resonate with anyone whose family has differing political affiliations in the 2020s. Directed by Jan Komasa (The Hater 2020, Good Boy 2025), the film unfolds within the walls of a seemingly perfect family whose unity begins to fracture as a powerful new political movement, known as “The Change,” sweeps the nation.
The film boasts a strong ensemble cast led by Diane Lane (My Dog Skip 2000, Inside Out 2 2024), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights series, Slumberland 2022), Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton series, Fair Play 2023), and Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf series, Caddo Lake 2024). Anniversary is as much an intimate domestic drama as it is a chilling reflection of our polarized world. It is best experienced with very little knowledge of the premise. Komasa’s film thrives on unease and revelation, but its message is unmistakable: when ideology eclipses empathy, no home is immune to collapse.
At its core, Anniversary is a haunting exploration of how ideology corrodes intimacy. The film uses the microcosm of a single family to reflect a nation in turmoil, showing how political movements can infiltrate even the most personal relationships and twist love into suspicion. As “The Change” spreads across the country, the lines between conviction and fanaticism blur, forcing each family member to confront what they genuinely believe, and what they are willing to sacrifice for it. Komasa’s direction captures the quiet horror of watching people you love become strangers, making the film not just a Political Thriller, but a devastating study of division, loyalty, and the fragility of connection in a fractured world.
The film’s realism is anchored by its exceptional performances—each actor fully inhabits their role, making this fractured family feel all the more authentic. Lane and Chandler deliver powerful, emotionally raw portrayals of parents slowly losing their grip on their family, forced to watch their children slip away, both emotionally and physically, to forces beyond their control. Their heartbreak is palpable, capturing the pain of losing not just relationships, but hope.
Furthermore, Dynevor brings an unsettling energy to her character, masterfully balancing a façade of innocence with the unmistakable sense that something darker lies beneath. O’Brien’s portrayal of Josh is captivating, particularly in a tense scene that captures the power struggle between father and son like an emotional chess match. Each move calculated, each word a test of control. McKenna Grace (Gifted 2017, What We Hide 2025), Madeline Brewer (Cam 2018, You 2025), and Zoey Deutch (The Suite Life on Deck series, The Threesome 2025) round out the ensemble with nuance and conviction, creating a family dynamic so believable that audiences can’t help but see reflections of their own lives within it.
One of Anniversary’s greatest strengths is its restraint. The film never overexplains “The Change,” the political movement at the heart of its conflict. Instead, Komasa keeps the details deliberately vague, allowing viewers to fill in the blanks with their own interpretations and biases. This ambiguity makes the story both unsettling and personal. Whether audiences see echoes of current politics, social movements, or their own family tensions, the film invites reflection rather than prescription. By resisting the urge to take a clear moral stance, the film becomes a mirror that forces each viewer to confront how easily conviction can slide into division.
Anniversary culminates in a shocking, gut-punch ending that leaves viewers unsettled, serving as a stark warning about how a lack of empathy can tear families and society apart. The film lands in a narrative uncanny valley, reflecting the fractures of contemporary society so closely that it feels uncomfortably honest, forcing audiences to confront the personal and political divisions surrounding them. If audiences can handle its intensity, Anniversary is a thrilling and thought-provoking experience. This is why Cryptic Rock gives Anniversary 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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