In Cold Light

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In Cold Light

R

Jan 2026

1h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Crime

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Ava is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be.

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Critics Consensus

While it offers some noteworthy visual flair, In Cold Light's story gets buried under implausible twists, worn out genre beats, and a cast that's never given the chance to shine.

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Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Jan 23

2/4

Maika Monroe plays a drug dealer facing off with her rodeo champ dad Troy Kotsur in a by-the-numbers thriller minus any real thrills. It’s the hints of a better film—fiercer, funnier, more attuned to a woman’s point of view—that nag at you.

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Sheila O'Malley

RogerEbert.com

Jan 23

A lot of thrillers are exciting but empty. 'In Cold Light' is thrilling but very full in unexpected and complicated ways.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Jan 22

2/5

In Cold Light is far better constructed and executed than its generic, straight-to-video title might imply, but it’s too monotonous – in the literal meaning of the word – to reach its aspirations or to really use its cast.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

17h

3.0/4.0

Monroe is pretty mind-blowing as Ava.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Feb 9

A satisfying crime drama that works craftily toward an ending that feels satisfyingly hard-won -- a bittersweet triumph.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Feb 6

A slow-burn crime thriller that privileges observation over exposition, building tension through image, silence, and restraint.

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Mr Hollywood

Jan 25

Gritty looking. Was entertaining. It doesn’t shy away from violence. If you don’t mind that in movies then you’ll enjoy it

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Robert W

Jan 24

One of the worst movies I’ve seen in awhile.

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Jan 29

In Cold Light (2026) is a thriller that promises suspense but largely fails to deliver. The story follows a young woman caught in a criminal investigation, leaving viewers unsure of her guilt. While the premise hints at tension and action, the film drags over an hour and 40 minutes, making it tedious and often frustrating. The screenplay lacks momentum, cohesion, and urgency, with key plot points underdeveloped or ignored. Direction shows little investment in building suspense, and acting is stiff and uninspired, leaving characters flat and unrelatable. Visually, the film is generic, offering no striking cinematography or memorable sequences. Overall, it feels like a streaming project unfit for theaters, leaving audiences disengaged, bored, and disappointed. The concept had potential, but the execution falls short on nearly every level.

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3asygoing

Jan 26

One of the worst movies youre going to see all year. Helen Hunts career is done, thats apparent. The movie is 100% garbage. 1/6th of the movie is in sign language, with no subtitle soyou know in case your one of the millions of people that no sign language.

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John O.

@jayfo Jan 25

Dark and depressing, I couldn’t possibly recommend it. Pretty much about drugs leading to great potential

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joel g

@davidbondo Jan 25

looks like it was shot on a cell phone and looks like it had a total budget of $1000 to make this movie.. Acting was barely tolerable.. Plot was even worse. Shot mostly during the night to save money..There was this bearded guy that communicated in sign laguage and they didnt even have the decency to put down subtitles for the stuff he was saying.. What a disaster. I dont even think Netflix would pick this up. No I KNOW netflix wouldnt pick this up and show.Too low quality.

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Maxime Giroux

Director

Maika Monroe

Ava Bly

Troy Kotsur

Will Bly

Helen Hunt

Claire

Allan Hawco

Bob Whyte

Jesse Irving

Tom Bly

In Cold Light: Exclusive Clip - I Can Fix This

1:15

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Synopsis

Ava is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be.

Director: Maxime Giroux
Producer: Yanick Létourneau, Mike MacMillan
Screenwriter: Patrick Whistler
Distributor: Saban Films
Production Co: Périphéria, Lithium Studios
Rating: R (Violence/Bloody Images|Some Drug Material|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2026
Runtime: 1h 36m

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