Don’t Peek (2025) Review

Synopsis

Don’t Peek (2025) follows a professional YouTubing couple, whose struggling marriage is further tested when they discover a stash of VHS tapes in their new home, revealing the previous owner was a serial killer who believed his victims were haunting him.

The couple decides to use the disturbing tapes for their YouTube channel in an attempt to revive their careers, leading to a spiral into voyeuristic terror

My Thoughts

Good Points

Tight, Controlled Filmmaking

“Don’t Peek” is fairly impressive in how tight everrything feels, and Kyle Tague runs the whole thing like he’s got a laser focus on what he wants the audience to feel.

For a microbudget film, it’s really well made I have to say, and that tightness makes the tension build without you even realizing it.

Subtle Tension

The movie isn’t about any obvious scares, and most of the unease comes from the little things, and these little things all stack on each other. It’s a slow burn but I personally wasn’t bored.

Strong Performances

Kelly Rook Daly and Jonathan Faircloth Kirk do a lot with very little. Their characters are caught between being charming, annoying, relatable, and a little stupid.

It’s that mix that makes the tension land because you don’t fully trust them to make the right move.

And yes, you will get annoyed by these two characters, too. But that’s part of the point.

Robbie Allen as Mr. Peek is also good. He’s quiet, he’s deliberate, and it works way better than the over-the-top horror villains we get in similar films.

Thoughtful Horror Layers

The film sneaks in some clever ideas if you pay attention. The loop concept with Mr. Peek, the way the tapes and the Winters’ online presence feed into the horror, and you get more out of it if you rewatch or think about the story, which is a nice bonus for a small horror movie.

Smart Use of Tech

Don’t Peek is mostly filmed on an iPhone 14 Pro, and the way the camera moves makes it feel intimate and tense, like how a good found footage movie should feel.

Microbudget horror doesn’t usually pull that off this well.

Concept-Driven Horror

The film messes with ideas about attention, performance, and watching/being watched. It’s fairly smart, creepy, and makes you think a bit.

Bad Points

Some Pacing Issues

All the tension is great at first, but some stretches do drag. A few scenes go on a little too long without really adding anything, and that slow burn can start feeling like a slog if you’re not in the mood for it. Luckily, I was.

Small Cast Limitations

Most of the focus is on the main three characters, and while the performances are good, there isn’t a lot of variety in character dynamics.

Microbudget Limits Show

Even with clever camera work, you can see where the budget limits things. A few sequences feel a bit flat or under-realized, and there are moments where you notice the lack of polish.

Abstract Ideas Can Overwhelm

The film leans hard into its themes about voyeurism, surveillance, and performance, and at times, it borders on overthinking things. You become more aware of the ideas it’s trying to explore rather than the story itself.

Narrow Scope

The story is mostly about the Winters and Mr. Peek, and it leaves little room for any surprises to happen. A bit more variety in who or what is affected by the tapes could’ve added more.

Is Don’t Peek Worth Watching?

Don’t Peek is a weird little film that punches above its weight, and is worth a watch in my view.

The tension, the camera work, the performances, and the ideas all work together to make something quite unique in microbudget horror.

It’s slow and subtle, which means it won’t grab everyone, but if you appreciate low-key, thought-provoking scares, it’s worth your time.

Far from perfect, but considering the budget, I think it is definitely one to watch if you like your horror to make you think.

Don’t Peek Trailer

Where To Watch Don’t Peek

Check on JustWatch

Director and Cast

Director: Kyle Tague
Cast: Kelly Daly, Jonathan Faircloth Kirk, Paris Winter, Robbie Allen, Leilah Ali