The Nursery | Best 2025 Horror

What begins as a simple night of 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦sitting quickly descends into a psychological and supernatural nightmare in The Nursery, one of 2025’s most talked-about mystery horror films. With chilling atmosphere, relentless suspense, and an unforgettable twist, The Nursery is earning its place among the best horror films of the year.

🧸 Plot Summary

Emily Carson (played by rising star Sophie Thatcher) is a 19-year-old college student hired to 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦sit in a sprawling Victorian mansion on the outskirts of a small New England town. The family is wealthy, reclusive, and evasive about the home’s disturbing history. Emily is instructed to watch over their infant son in the upstairs nursery — a room filled with antique toys, faded wallpaper, and a rocking chair that never stays still.

As the night progresses, Emily begins hearing strange noises through the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 monitor — distant whispers, lullabies sung in reverse, and the unmistakable sound of someone else in the house. The 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 cries at strange times… but sometimes, there’s no 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 in the crib at all.

She discovers a hidden attic door, cryptic drawings by a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 who “shouldn’t exist,” and a series of tragic events that occurred decades ago involving a missing nanny, an infant’s death, and the house’s original owner — a grieving mother who vanished under mysterious circumstances.

Emily must unravel the mystery before the house claims her too.

👻 Cast & Crew

• Sophie Thatcher as Emily Carson

• Toni Collette as Mrs. Albridge, the cold, secretive homeowner

• Jeremy Davies as Mr. Albridge, a man slowly unraveling

• Director: Lucia Romero

• Writer: Carl Hewitt

• Composer: Ben Lovett (eerie, minimalist score)

🎥 Atmosphere & Cinematography

The Nursery is drenched in tension, with long static shots, minimal lighting, and heavy use of ambient sound to evoke dread. The production team used vintage lenses to create a grainy, dreamlike texture, giving the entire film a retro haunted aesthetic. The 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 monitor becomes a primary narrative tool — both a source of anxiety and revelation.

Rather than rely on cheap scares, the film builds psychological unease with subtle visual cues: dolls that shift positions, reflections that don’t match reality, and time loops that hint Emily may not be the first to enter — or the first to be trapped.

🩸 Release & Reception

Premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, The Nursery earned standing ovations for its slow-burn horror style and emotionally layered storytelling. Critics have compared it to modern classics like The Others, The Orphanage, and The Babadook.

The film is set to release in theaters and digitally on October 18, 2025, just in time for Halloween.