All Her Fault movie review & film summary (2025) | Roger Ebert

All Her Fault Movie Review & Film Summary (2025)

All Her Fault is a tense psychological thriller that blends the sudden terror of a sinkhole collapse with the venomous unpredictability of a snake pit. The film opens with a nightmare scenario: Marissa, played by Sarah Snook, arrives at a playdate to pick up her son, Milo (Duke McCloud). When she calls the host mother, Jenny (Dakota Fanning), Jenny appears completely unaware of any such arrangement.

From this unsettling moment, nothing improves — each event deepens the anxiety and keeps the audience on edge. Adapted from Andrea Mara’s novel, the film uses dread and suspicion to full effect. The disappearance of Milo sets the frantic tone of the first act, and tension builds relentlessly from there.

Unrelenting Suspense and Emotional Turmoil

Every small error, every accusing glance, and each spark of mistrust are portrayed with striking intensity. The viewer is pushed to react emotionally — to shout warnings at the screen, to question every decision. This engagement is deliberate, as the series constantly blurs the line between guilt and innocence.

“You’re supposed to scream at the screen, and you probably will.”

Every character seems suspicious: Marissa and her husband Peter (Jake Lacy), the circle of mothers, the nannies (Kartiah Vergara, Sophia Lillis), family members (Abby Elliott, Daniel Monks), and the business partner (Jay Ellis). The story ensures that shadows linger over everyone, leaving the viewer uncertain who to trust.

Layers of Mystery and Memory

Flashbacks extending a decade into the past begin to piece together how events unfolded. Yet these glimpses often conceal as much as they disclose, maintaining the atmosphere of mystery. This dynamic — where revelation and misdirection intertwine — fuels the narrative’s intrigue.

“That’s what makes the series intriguing: the cat-and-mouse game that the storytelling plays with the viewer.”

Author’s Summary

The film skillfully weaves paranoia, emotional turmoil, and mystery into a gripping exploration of trust, motherhood, and buried secrets.

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Roger Ebert Roger Ebert — 2025-11-05

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