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Leigh Janiak ’s SXSW Film Festival horror hit “Honeymoon” belongs to a long line of films about people who may not know enough about the recent object of their admiration. Great horror movies have been built around the concept of protector as betrayer as people like Rosemary’s husband worked with the devil to destroy her baby. You may have married the perfect guy but did you really know him? It’s a relatable core concept for genre filmmaking—the fear that arises from the suggestion that the person sleeping next to you is not what he or she purports to be. For the most part, these thrillers and horror films are built around the male aggressor: a husband or boyfriend with a lethal secret. Janiak’s “Honeymoon” cleverly turns the gender table, making the lovely bride the one with something to hide. I wish the film withheld more information from its audience to raise the overall tension but it’s a solid genre pic, made so primarily by two entirely committed performances from its talented leads.

Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway play Bea and Paul, respectively. They’re beautiful, have great chemistry, and seem destined to have a lovely honeymoon in a remote cabin home. They can hike the woods, say hi to the locals and get the privacy newlyweds need to start their life together. Paul is kind, Bea is joyful—they’re bound to find happiness, right? It’s a movie called “Honeymoon,” what could go wrong?

The first sign of bad things to come pops up with eerie lights in the middle of the night. Then, our lovely couple has a “Body Snatchers”-esque encounter with a couple in town. Something doesn’t seem right in these eerie woods. Before you know it, Bea has gone sleepwalking, and come back a little, well, different. There are marks on her body that can’t be explained, and, most effectively of all, she doesn’t seem to be completely cognizant of Bea’s identity, or even normal human behavior. She doesn’t know how to make French toast. She can’t make coffee. Phrases are off and details of their history together seem fuzzy. And the lustful woman who came to the cabin has been replaced by someone who denies sex regularly. What the Hell is going on?

The film’s biggest flaw is that we know exactly what’s going on. The lights in the woods, the inconsistencies in human behavior—film history has taught us that Bea is not exactly who she used to be. I wish Janiak had let the relationship drama play out a bit longer. If “Honeymoon” had been a film in which we question Paul’s sanity as much as Bea’s personality change, it would have been even stronger. What if Bea wasn’t actually “different” but just a moody, inconsistent new bride? What if “Honeymoon” had kept more of its secrets until the final act?

Because Janiak didn’t make that decision, there are plot elements of “Honeymoon” that play out rather predictably. Having said that, it’s an enjoyable, well-made predictability. Janiak knows how to deal with the tonal shifts of the production and Leslie and Treadaway are both quite good here, appearing in basically every scene of a two-character, one-setting piece. In particular, Leslie has to go deliver on a lot of physically challenging moments and she’s excellent at conveying the reality of a terrifying situation. You can see the old Bea in the new Bea, which is the most terrifying aspect of “Honeymoon” overall. It’s not the massive changes that happen to our loved ones that scare us, but the slow realization that something’s just not quite right. At its best, “Honeymoon” transcends genre filmmaking to capture something to which we can all relate: that moment when you know something’s wrong in your relationship.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Honeymoon (2014)

Rated R for disturbing bloody images, sexual content and language

Rose Leslie as Bea

Harry Treadaway as Paul

Ben Huber as Will

Hanna Brown as Annie

• Leigh Janiak
• Phil Graziadei

Director of Photography

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Guest 3683 427 days ago

User kumar 451 days ago.

Total bakwas movie, waste of time and money

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Super waste of time movie . Same old plan of panjabi movies showing Panjabis as fools

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Honeymoon Movie Twist Ending Explained

Honeymoon 's crazy ending has a strong message for married couples. 

Directed by Leigh Janiak, Honeymoon explores the story of a newly married couple who thinks that they are on their dream vacation, but ends up on a nightmare-infused experience instead. 

The film premiered in theaters on September 12, 2014. It was added to Hulu on December 31. 

What Happened to Paul & Bea in Honeymoon's Ending?

In Honeymoon , Paul (Harry Treadaway) and Bea (Rose Leslie) are a typical couple who are having a good time after just getting married. 

After they decide to spend their honeymoon in a cabin owned by Bea's family, things go from cheesy and romantic to strange and terrifying. 

During the night after they meet up with Will (Paul's childhood friend played by Ben Huber) and Annie (Hanna Brown), Paul sees his wife, Bea, naked in the nearby lake after sleepwalking. 

The next day, Paul grows suspicious of Bea because his wife is not aware of her daily routine and exhibits weird behavior. 

After a series of terrifying events happen that includes Paul framing Will and locking up Bea, the seemingly possessed Bea confesses to Paul that she saw a mysterious light that hypnotized her and a creature that impregnated her during the night when he found her naked near the cabin. 

Upon discovering what happened, Paul tries to flee from the cabin, but Bea stops him and knocks him out. 

Paul wakes up in a boat in the middle of the lake, with Bea telling him that she is only doing this to protect him from the mysterious creatures. 

Paul then attempts to escape while begging for his wife to let him go, but Bea viciously throws him into the lake, essentially killing him. 

At the end of Honeymoon , Bea is watching her wedding video and appears to be slowly transforming into an alien. 

Annie, who is also taken over by aliens, shows up she and Bea go into the forest to join the mysterious creatures. 

What Is the True Meaning of Honeymoon’s Ending?

Honeymoon 's ending leaves many unanswered questions, such as the identity of the aliens who took over Annie and Bea and the real reason why they were there in the first place. 

Still, there is a deeper meaning behind the horror movie's twisted ending, specifically for married couples. 

Honeymoon shows that the only thing that is constant for married couples is change, and both of them will discover something new about their partners at any given moment. 

While Paul and Bea were a happy couple at first (complete with a cheesy public display of affection), the movie cements the idea that not all the time is a happy ending, especially after the challenges and outside pressure kick in. 

At one point in the movie, a mysterious worm-like creature comes out of Bea, before ultimately dying. Some have theorized that this is the movie's way of showing aspects like pregnancy and abortion alongside the responsibilities that come along with it (that Bea doesn't want to have).

Given that Bea is the movie's central focus, it unveils the fact that she is truly not ready to start a married life with Paul. The light represents her escape or path to freedom, and the fact that she willingly follows it suggests that she has already embraced the idea of letting go. 

Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of her husband Paul's life. 

Honeymoon is now streaming on Hulu.

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Horror film has unique premise, some edgy content.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

This is horror at its most basic: bad things happe

The characters are either victims or scared. There

The movie mostly conjures up a sense of dread, but

A newlywed couple has sex several times, though no

"F--k" is used several times.

Tylenol is mentioned.

Parents need to know that Honeymoon is a low-budget horror film that has a long, slow buildup before anything gruesome or gory is shown, but it does end up having a fair bit blood and disturbing imagery (a woman stabs herself in the crotch area). The main characters -- a pair of newlyweds on their honeymoon -…

Positive Messages

This is horror at its most basic: bad things happening to good people. They react with fear and concern, but no real lessons are learned, and characters don't go above and beyond at any time.

Positive Role Models

The characters are either victims or scared. There's really nothing to admire or emulate.

Violence & Scariness

The movie mostly conjures up a sense of dread, but there's some gruesome violence toward the end. A woman stabs herself in the crotch, and blood is shown. A man removes a long, strange creature from her vagina. A man ties up a woman. They fight, and some bloody injuries are shown. A man throws a tantrum in a restaurant and smashes some lamps.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A newlywed couple has sex several times, though nothing sensitive is shown. In a shower scene, the side of the woman's breast is visible. Her bottom is also visible in a night scene. She's also shown in a bra and panties. Oral sex is implied.

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Parents need to know that Honeymoon is a low-budget horror film that has a long, slow buildup before anything gruesome or gory is shown, but it does end up having a fair bit blood and disturbing imagery (a woman stabs herself in the crotch area). The main characters -- a pair of newlyweds on their honeymoon -- have sex on several occasions; one takes place in the shower, and a side view of the naked characters, pressed together, is shown. Language is fairly strong, with multiple uses of "f--k." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

Bea (Rose Leslie) and Paul ( Harry Treadaway ) are newlyweds, fresh from a wedding that mirrors their courtship. As they start their lives together, they embark on a honeymoon to Bea's family cabin in the woods. At first things are blissful. Then one evening they head to a local restaurant, where two of the locals are acting strangely. Later, Paul finds Bea standing in the middle of the woods at night, apparently having sleepwalked. After that, she starts acting strangely, forgetting things, and generally not seeming like herself. Paul grows more and more alarmed and eventually decides to leave. But it may be too late.

Is It Any Good?

HONEYMOON opens with some wedding video testimonials, and it looks like it's going to be yet another in the now oh-so-tired "found footage" subgenre, but thankfully Janiak has more in mind. Bea and Paul are annoyingly perky and cluelessly hopeful as the movie starts ... and also, it turns out, woefully unprepared to deal with anything resembling a real problem. (A discussion about the use of the word "womb" is the first sticking point.)

The characters can be annoying, but it appears that they might have been designed that way on purpose, as a way of illustrating the primal nature of male-female relationships. (What's missing in today's cute couple culture?) Janiak keeps switching things up, and nothing leads quite where you think it will. Moreover, her low-budget setting generates scares out of simple ideas. Who knew that burnt toast could send a chill up the spine?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Honeymoon 's violence . When do viewers see the first really violent image? How does the movie build up to it? What's the ultimate effect? In general, what's scarier in movies -- the things you do see, or the things you don't?

How scary is the movie? What makes it different from other horror movies?

How does the movie play with your expectations? What did you expect to happen versus what actually happened?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 12, 2014
• On DVD or streaming : January 13, 2015
• Cast : Harry Treadaway , Rose Leslie , Ben Huber
• Director : Leigh Janiak
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors
• Studio : Magnet Releasing
• Genre : Horror
• Run time : 87 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : disturbing bloody images, sexual content and language
• Last updated : September 27, 2023

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Even though the premise of naive and loud villagers landing in England is not entirely new, and some of the serious scenes are a bit soppy, the direction and performances make this laugh riot worth watching.

Honeymoon Movie Review: A slapstick Funjabi outing with great performances

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Guest 3683 427 days ago

User kumar 451 days ago.

Total bakwas movie, waste of time and money

kinda 452 days ago

Waleed waleed 463 days ago, vikramjit singh 464 days ago.

Super waste of time movie . Same old plan of panjabi movies showing Panjabis as fools

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Honeymoon’ on Hulu, a Generic Comedy That Squanders Maria Bakalova’s Talent

Where to stream:.

• The Honeymoon (2022)
• Maria Bakalova

What Movie Should I Watch Tonight? ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Now on Netflix

Stream it or skip it: ‘bodies bodies bodies’ on netflix, a bloody, hilarious satire that slashes the youth generation to ribbons, ‘bodies bodies bodies’ ending explained: who is the killer, ‘bodies bodies bodies’ on netflix: a perfect horror movie about secretly hating your friends.

The Honeymoon ( now on Hulu ) is notable not for its generic title, or for being written and directed by the guy who wrote two Death at a Funeral s, three years apart (namely, rom-com vet Dean Craig). No, it’s notable for giving Maria Bakalova – Oscar nominee for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and generator of significant comedy in the damn terrific Bodies Bodies Bodies – a second-fiddle role behind a couple of dudes, and therefore not nearly enough to do. Beyond that, the film is a thing that fulfills one’s expectations for a lightweight comedy, and nothing more, which isn’t exactly a crime, especially if it makes us laugh, which it comes precariously close to doing on occasion. Whether that’s enough to warrant a recommendation… well, let’s get into that now, shall we?  

THE HONEYMOON : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Bav (dude no. 1, Asim Chaudhry) is nervous, and it’s not even his wedding. But he is the best man, standing next to his forever bud Adam (dude no. 2, Pico Alexander), which, with the ring and the speech and the hey-bro-are-you-sure-you-wanna-get-married-and-let-her-take-you-away-from-me guilt, is enough to stir up the ol’ anxiety. Adam is cool as a cucumber taped to the other side of the pillow, until Bav drops the ring into the lake mid-ceremony and gives an awkward and embarrassing best-man speech. This, you may notice, is stuff that doesn’t usually occur in Wedding Movies until the third act, but here we are in the first act, because the movie isn’t about the wedding, but what comes after the wedding. It’s right there in the title. And suffice to say, the hey-bro-are-you-sure-you-wanna-get-married-and-let-her-take-you-away-from-me guilt is a key plot element, because Bav ends up going to Venice along with Adam and Sarah (Bakalova), cluelessly cramping breakfast and bedtime and all points between. Sigh, I say. Sigh.

Here’s the thing. Bav and Adam have been “the Inseparables” since they were tots, although there was a period of time where Adam moved to America with his parents, leaving Bav alone with his whatevers. You know, his insecurities and peccadilloes and the like. Bav implies that he might just off himself while Adam and Sarah are off doing newlywed stuff – taking in lovely sights, putting tab A into slot B, etc. – and Adam crumbles and invites him along. Guilt. It’s all guilt. And next thing you know, the third wheel is grossing everyone out by eating breakfast all sloppy and slurpy and gross like DeSantis at a pudding bar. And barging into their suite during lingerie time because he already destroyed his own toilet. And accidentally bearing witness to their kinky donkey-jester roleplay. He’s so obnoxious, he makes boors look like the Queen. 

When Adam and Sarah finally get out the crowbar and pry Bav away for an afternoon, he immediately befriends Giorgio (Lucas Bravo, Emily in Paris ), a gangster with money from here to Proxima Centauri and back. Here I’ll note that Sarah loves fine art and is an artist, two things that comprise the bare threads of her character, because these facts play into this next part here. Our protag trio ends up at Giorgio’s estate, where Sarah admires all his priceless art, which sits there precariously, just waiting for Bav to accidentally smash it. As the wise man once said: Uh oh, Spaghetti-Os. They’re in deep excrement now. And so Giorgio forces Adam and Bav to deliver a giant load of cocaine to Slovenia, keeping Sarah behind as collateral, and with the hope that she’s a fickle woman character from a 1950s farce who’s just waiting to be wooed away from her husband by a handsome rich guy. Hilarity ensues – in theory, at least.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: This is a classic mismatched-buddy comedy that swipes/references the fat-guy-in-a-little-coat bit from Tommy Boy and the those-aren’t-pillows bit from Planes Trains and Automobiles . And the gangster-tries-to-seduce-his-captive stuff emits enough of an eau de 365 Days that we nearly got on our knees to pray that the Bakalova character not be the idiot who falls for the dashing criminal.

Performance Worth Watching: The whateverness of the characters played by the two dudes gets far too much screen time, and we lean in hoping Young gives Bakalova at least one lonely single opportunity to do something inspired. But it doesn’t happen. 

Memorable Dialogue: Bakalova: “I didn’t even know a human could create a smell like that.” – Sarah reacts to one of the many odors Bav emits (see what I mean about the Bakalova conundrum?)

Sex and Skin: No skin, but Bakalova wears some lacy things when she saddles up to give Alexander the ol’ EO.

Our Take: The Honeymoon is a collection of thin characters and wacky-com crud recycled from dozens of movies before it. Young is a veteran of this stuff (his previous film was 2020’s similarly generic, slightly more charming Love Wedding Repeat ) who has yet to transcend genre limitations with his oeuvre of writing and directing projects – which is by no means a crime against the art of film, but the dearth of inspired laughs here is conspicuous. And not to beat the point to death, but Bakalova? Why would anyone hire someone of her comedy acumen to play what’s essentially a straight person role?

The movie just floats on by, setting up and executing predictable situations that seem impossible to escape, but you just know Bav and Adam somehow will wriggle out of them anyway. Young writes some diarrhea and pants-shitting and pissing-yourself jokes, concocts a break-up-and-make-up conflict for the central bromance, wheelbarrows in several loads of simple sentimental syrup and lands at a very rather quite dumb climactic confrontation that has no interest whatsoever in logic or reason. And here I sit, trying to recall moments that made my lips part so laughter could escape, and realizing there really weren’t any. There were a couple of really nice, postcard-y drone shots of Venice, though, so it could’ve been worse.

Our Call: The Honeymoon isn’t unwatchable, but neither is it particularly good. Faint praise, I know. SKIP IT. 

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Review: The Honeymoon Movie

The Honeymoon tells the story of three best friends who jet off on an unexpected island holiday after one of them is left jilted by her fiancé the night before her wedding. Directed by Bianca Isaac and produced by Gregory Mthanji, starring Kajal Bagwandeen, Tumi Morake and Minnie Dlamini.

I was the first media guest to arrive at the exclusive screening of The Honeymoon at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg so I had a chance to mingle. I first met Nina Hastie who plays the character of Leslie, and she was MC’ing the media junket as well as the premiere.

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The Director, Bianca Isaac, and producer, Gregory Mthanji were also present which gave us an opportunity to chat over mimosas and scrumptious treats ahead of the screening. Gregory and I discussed the movie in depth and he gave me a heads up with regard to the mild expletives.

This was an interesting talking point as we debated over whether using the ‘F’ word is still frowned upon in modern society. To be fair, the word occupies space in our minds rent free, making it’s way into conversations as we express our frustrations over minor inconveniences or even in moments of clarity and passion. It’s part of the culture, no?

“Personally, what are you expecting from the film?” He asked. Having seen a few local rom-coms in my lifetime, I honestly hadn’t given it much thought as they all pretty much have the same storyline. It was quite interesting to learn that the film is an action comedy and not a rom-com.

The location is definitely a stand-out feature in the film, “I look forward to the cinematography, seeing as the film was shot at such a beautiful location,” I said, hoping that Gregory would talk me through the art and visual storytelling but he seemed more interested in my take.

“Honestly, I’m hoping to see a true reflection of who we are as a people. Often with local comedy, it borders on caricature.” Gregory affirmed that the film captures the South African story aptly, and that it’s so relatable that it can be enjoyed by a global audience…he didn’t lie!

A few minutes into the movie, I felt myself drawn to the authenticity of the characters. Nina Simone’s character, Leslie eased us into the emotional roller coaster with her catchy phrase, “don’t be kak,” which has now taken on a life of it’s own.

The story centres around Kat and Vivaan’s relationship, played by Kajal Bagwandeen and Tasveer Maharaj. The two love-birds are due to get married and jet off to Zanzibar for their honeymoon but things go South the night before the wedding.

Kat’s pain is palpable as she struggles to come to terms with her new reality. Social media influencer Noks, played by Tumi Morake, drags Kat and married mother-of-two Lu (Minnie Dlamini) off to the dream holiday destination.

The scenic island becomes their playground as they live their best lives away from their responsibilities. The ladies try to hold Kat up while battling their own demons, and it seems mayhem is looming in the background. Lies and secrets find their way to the fore, threatening their friendship. But will they unravel?

The synergy shared by the three leading ladies on and off-screen is also worth noting, which prompted me to ask how it came about, at the media Q&A. The ladies shared that they’ve been friends for a while now, and as mothers they’ve shared some real and intimate moments on and off set.

This translates well on screen, and I have to commend the ladies for the sensitivity displayed towards their characters. Noks, Lu and Kat could be any woman in the room, and their stories transcend place and time. This is a story about friendship, sisterhood, family, love, loss, freedom, identity and truth.

The universal themes weave through the fibre of diverse communities and appeal to the core of humanity, prompting us to ask ourselves the hard questions. Are you living your truth? And most importantly, are you happy?

Head to a cinema near you and unpeel the layers with the characters who are on a quest to get to the truth of who they are. If the reality check elicits a passionate “oh fu*k!” This too, is real.

On that note… shout out to Bianca Isaac, Gregory Mthanji and the entire cast and crew of The Honeymoon. You left your hearts on the set of The Honeymoon, and I can’t wait for the world to lap up your magic. Thank you!

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The Honeymoon Reviews

Young... concocts a break-up-and-make-up conflict for the central bromance, wheelbarrows in several loads of simple sentimental syrup and lands at a very rather quite dumb climactic confrontation that has no interest whatsoever in logic or reason.

Full Review | Apr 11, 2023

• Cast & crew
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The Honeymoon

When Kat gets dumped the night before her wedding, her best friends, Noks and Lu rally together to make good use of her honeymoon in Zanzibar. When Kat gets dumped the night before her wedding, her best friends, Noks and Lu rally together to make good use of her honeymoon in Zanzibar. When Kat gets dumped the night before her wedding, her best friends, Noks and Lu rally together to make good use of her honeymoon in Zanzibar.

• Bianca Isaac
• Naomi Beaty
• Jolyon Ellis
• Kajal Bagwandeen
• Tumi Morake
• Minnie Dlamini
• 46 User reviews

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User reviews 46

• dhanisingh-40445
• Aug 5, 2023
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• March 31, 2023 (South Africa)
• South Africa
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• Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (on location)
• Figjam Entertainment
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• $1,000,000 (estimated)

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• Runtime 1 hour 50 minutes

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