New R-Rated Horror Movie Featuring Game Of Thrones Reunion Sharply Divides Critics In Rotten Tomatoes Debut

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The new movie starring Sophie Turner and Kit Harington, called The Dreadful, isn’t living up to expectations after the divisive final season of Game of Thrones. Many fans had hoped for a stronger project following the show’s controversial ending.

Kit Harington and Sophie Turner, who famously starred in Game of Thrones, are working together again after the show ended seven years ago. This time, they play lovers in The Dreadful, a gothic horror set during the Wars of the Roses. The story follows Anne, played by Turner, and her mother-in-law as they live a private life until someone from their past unexpectedly returns, disrupting their seclusion.

Early reviews for the new Gothic horror film, The Dreadful, are starting to come out, and critics don’t seem to agree. Currently, the film has a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews.

Image via Lionsgate

Most critics see The Dreadful as a slow-paced horror film with beautiful, dark medieval visuals that evoke classic Gothic style. Some found it lacking in jump scares, but others praised its deliberate build-up of tension, particularly highlighting a strong performance by Harden.

Despite generally positive reception, some reviewers felt The Dreadful’s plot was shallow and lacked substance. Others criticized the storytelling as being slow and the ending as disappointing. The connection between the two lead actors, Turner and Harington, also didn’t quite resonate with some viewers.

Despite mixed initial reactions, The Dreadful gained attention because it reunited actors Sophie Turner and Kit Harington after a long time, and revealed they would be playing romantic partners. It’s interesting to note that Turner actually suggested Harington for the part, and she’s also a producer on the film.

The two actors have admitted things felt strange between them, considering they previously played family members – half-siblings or cousins – on screen. The trailer for their new movie, The Dreadful, showed them kissing, which led them to discuss how awkward it was.

During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Sophie Turner shared a conversation she had with Kit Harington. He jokingly warned her that a particular scene would be “weird.” She remembered him saying, “Yeah, I’d love to, but this is going to be really awkward, Soph.” Turner was confused at the time, but then she read the script and realized it involved a lot of kissing and intimacy. That’s when it hit her: she’d be filming those scenes with her on-screen brother.

In the end, they both decided to work on the project because they enjoyed the script. However, Turner remembers how awful their first kiss was with Harington. She described them both being sick during the scene, calling it “vile” and “the worst.”

Let me tell you, filming that kiss with Emilia Clarke was… a little awkward! It wasn’t the romance that was tough, it was the height difference. I actually had to stand on an apple box to reach her – she’s a good foot taller than me! Thankfully, I managed to get through it with my pride mostly intact. It was a funny moment on set, honestly.

Following the conclusion of Game of Thrones, Kit Harington and Sophie Turner have both worked on numerous film and television projects over the past seven years. Harington has taken on roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dane Whitman, and has appeared in films like Baby Ruby, The Beast Within, and The Family Plan 2. He also recently returned to HBO, joining the cast of Industry as Henry Muck in its third season.

I’ve been following Jenna Turner’s career, and she’s been really busy with some great TV roles, like in ‘Joan’ and Prime Video’s ‘Steal.’ She’s popped up in films too – I remember her in Netflix’s ‘Do Revenge’ and ‘Trust’ – but I’m really excited about her landing the part of Lara Croft in the new Prime Video ‘Tomb Raider’ series. It’s a huge role, obviously, following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, and I hear they’re actually filming it right now. I can’t wait to see her take on that iconic character!

The film stars Turner and Harington, along with Marcia Gay Harden, Laurence O’Fuarain, and Jonathan Howard. Written and directed by Natasha Kermani, this Gothic horror is inspired by a traditional Shin Buddhist story – the same one that formed the basis of the 1964 Japanese film, Onibaba.

The Dreadful will be available in select theaters and on digital on February 20.

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2026-02-19 20:19