In Hold the Fort, a group of suburban homeowners would rather fight demons, witches, and werewolves once a year than deal with today’s brutal mortgage rates. A fair choice, honestly. Premiering at the 2025 Fantasia Film Festival, this horror-comedy leans into its B-movie charm and makes the most of a simple premise across a tight, sub-80-minute runtime.
The story unfolds during one of these annual monster invasions. Newcomers Lucas and Jenny have just moved in, completely unaware of what they’ve gotten themselves into. Lucas, having skipped the HOA manual, brings Jenny to what they assume is a welcome party—only to find out it’s actually a briefing for the night’s supernatural attack. Things go from bad to worse when Lucas accidentally ruins the community’s main defense strategy, making this year’s siege harder than usual.
The first 20 minutes set the stage: we meet the characters, learn the rules, and get a feel for the film’s quirky tone. Once the monsters show up, the movie shifts into full action mode. Each attack feels like a new level in a video game, with different creatures, weapons, and strategies. None of it is particularly scary or intense—the focus is on silly humor, visual gags, and fast-paced fun. One especially memorable image (used in the poster) shows two characters running while taped together, but most of the encounters blur together. The film wisely avoids lingering on any single monster, helping to mask its budget while keeping the momentum going.
What really keeps the film together is the cast. Lucas and Jenny are our way into this world, though Lucas’s deliberately annoying traits might wear thin. The real fun comes from the supporting characters. Julian Smith is a standout as Jerry, especially once his character gets accidentally drugged and launches into some great physical comedy. Tordy Clark is another highlight, bringing sharp timing and a deadpan charm that feels like Frances McDormand wandered into a B-movie. The whole community has a lived-in, oddball vibe that works.
For a film called Hold the Fort, I do wish there was more actual fort-holding—and a bit more suspense. The monsters get inside quickly and easily, and from there the movie becomes a string of indoor skirmishes that don’t really build in danger or scale. It’s entertaining, but the threat never truly escalates.
Still, Hold the Fort embraces exactly what it is—a simple, fun time. The jokes land, the pacing never lags, and the movie wraps things up before the premise ever wears thin. It may not hold the fort for long, but it holds your attention while it lasts.