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The Sacrifice Game

The Sacrifice Game

This Christmas, raise a little hell.

202399 minNot RatedMidcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Director
Jenn Wexler
Starring
Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Chloë Levine

Christmas break, 1971. Samantha and Clara, two students who are staying behind for the holidays at their boarding school, must survive the night after the arrival of uninvited visitors.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Sacrifice Game?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Sacrifice Game streaming on AMC+ and Shudder via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Sacrifice Game?

The Sacrifice Game earns 4 badges, led by Overhyped and Christmas pick.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Sacrifice Game worth watching?

The Sacrifice Game's Midcredits score is the 22nd percentile of all films, from 12K ratings across 6 sources. 28% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

22nd percentile

Better received than 22% of films

64th percentile among Horror23rd percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)27th
Approval (how many liked it)20th

54 /100

27th percentile of all films

71st percentile among Horror29th percentile among 2020s

Critics 55 · Audience 54

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.6 — solid but not unanimous.

28% liked it

20th percentile of all films

59th percentile among Horror21st percentile among 2020s
28% rated it 7–1072% rated it 1–6

Critics 90% · Audience 53%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 0 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

77th percentile

12K ratings across platforms

76th percentile among Horror77th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 6% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$301K

44th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A Christmas-set horror film with a Manson-style cult, a demonic ritual, and a twist that shifts the story's focus.

Fans praised

  • Fun, entertaining holiday slasher with a clever twist
  • Strong performances, especially from Georgia Acken
  • Practical gore effects and solid cinematography

Detractors panned

  • Boring, padded scenes with excessive dialogue
  • Unconvincing acting, especially from the adult cast
  • Obvious twist and undercooked plot that loses momentum

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive60

Good practical gore and blood effects; some unrealistic CGI for demon

ActingDivisive55

Georgia Acken praised as standout; adult cast widely criticized as flat or goofy

AtmosphereDivisive55

Strong 70s period detail and claustrophobic school setting; inconsistent tone

CharactersDivisive50

Villains seen as cartoonish or fun; protagonists lack emotional connection for many

Plot and storyDivisive48

Simple premise with predictable twist; some find it clever, others undercooked

TensionDivisive40

Builds suspense in cat-and-mouse sequences; not scary overall

PacingDivisive35

Dragged out middle with excessive talk; fans see it as slow burn

Originality35

Derivative of 70s/80s slashers and occult films; twist provides some freshness

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Sacrifice Game like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want to be scared.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDread
Heaviest: middle
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its violent, occult material with a straight face, maintaining a dark and brooding atmosphere throughout.
The rideThe synopsis suggests a slow-burn setup that escalates into a violent confrontation, with tension and dread dominating most of the runtime.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically from the killers' attack through the ritual and the demon's awakening.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe film ends with an ambiguous resolution where Clara's true nature is accepted, leaving a mix of hope and unease.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA gang of killers traps students in a boarding school to perform a demon summoning ritual; the tables turn when the demon is revealed to be one of the students.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores Clara's hidden demonic identity and whether she can be loved for what she truly is, while Samantha's loyalty is tested to the point of sacrifice.
StanceThe film likely examines how ordinary people react under extreme threat, questioning the nature of courage and survival.

The world

Late 20th centuryInstitutionalDomesticRealistic
AmbientSupportive music · original score
SettingA remote all-girls boarding school during Christmas break

Content guide

Is The Sacrifice Game okay for kids?

Not Rated

The Sacrifice Game is not rated. As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (73/100), sexual content at mild (26/100), language at moderate (58/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (20/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • France16
  • PRR
  • Russia18+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (27 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Sacrifice Game have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Sacrifice Game?

Cast

Mena Massoud
as Jude
Olivia Scott Welch
as Maisie
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Gus Kenworthy
as Jimmy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Chloë Levine
as Rose
Derek Johns
as Grant
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Laurent Pitre
as Doug
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Madison Baines
as Samantha
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Sophie McIntosh
as Sandy
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Patrick Kerton
as Security Guard
Douglas J. Miller
as Husband
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

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What are movies like The Sacrifice Game?

Movies like The Sacrifice Game include Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021), The Prowler (1981) and Fear Street: Part Two - 1978 (2021). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films that feel brutal, and most are films set in small-town America.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its story type: slasher. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

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