Paulina García is trading her usual grounded maternal roles for something far more unsettling, and we’ve got your exclusive first look at the tension-filled trailer for Love Is the Monster, a psychological thriller that turns a dreamy Nordic escape into a slow-burn nightmare. The film, which just dropped its first footage ahead of its Toronto International Film Festival premiere, centers on a couple who think they’re signing up for healing but might actually be walking into a trap.
The setup hooks you fast: Ana (Madeline Zima) and Justin (Leonardo Nam) are reeling from the fallout of infidelity when they decide to take one last shot at saving their marriage. That gamble brings them to an elite, invitation-only retreat in Finland, where they’ll sit under the eerie glow of the midnight sun while absorbing the teachings of Tiina (Milla Puolakanaho), a shaman who channels the wisdom of Lempo, the ancient Finnish deity of love and fertility. It sounds blissful on paper, but the trailer does not waste time making it clear that paradise has teeth. Joined by a small circle of fellow couples from around the globe, Ana and Justin quickly realize the transformation Tiina promises might come at a cost nobody discussed in the brochure.
Director Alex Noyer, who also co-wrote the script, has clearly leaned into the uncomfortable contrast between the serene, golden-hour visuals and the creeping dread underneath. The trailer leans heavily on that contradiction - shots of calm lakes and sunlit forests cut against close-ups of anxious faces and whispered conflicts. García, who plays the mysterious Margaret, is front and center in the footage, and even in a brief glimpse, she brings that signature intensity that made her an international favorite. Her character appears to be the kind of grandmotherly figure who offers warm tea with one hand and a loaded psychological grenade with the other. It’s a juicy pivot for the actress, best known in recent years for her work in projects that explore complicated family dynamics, and this role lets her flex a more menacing edge.
The supporting cast rounds out nicely. Moe Jeudy-Lamour and Kimberly-Sue Murray play Lance and Harper, another couple at the retreat, while Kristina Tonteri-Young and Tatu Sinisalo slot into the larger ensemble of attendees and locals. Sheila McCarthy steps in alongside García as part of a veteran duo that clearly knows more than they’re letting on. The film clocks in at a tight 84 minutes, which is a smart choice for a thriller of this stripe - no bloat, just escalating unease from the first act to the final reveal.
Love Is the Monster has already generated a modest buzz on the festival circuit, with an early TMDb score of 6.5 out of 10 suggesting viewers are responding to its atmosphere even if it doesn’t reinvent the genre. The story pulls from Finnish folklore in a way that feels fresh, particularly in how it frames Lempo - traditionally a figure of passion and chaotic desire - as a force that might be guiding more than just romance. That mythological layer gives the film a texture that separates it from the standard “retreat gone wrong” fare. Rather than leaning on jump scares or gore, Noyer appears more interested in the quiet, corrosive dynamics between people who’ve already hurt each other and are now being pushed to confront darker truths.
There’s also a clever production choice at play: shooting under the real midnight sun of a Finnish summer gives the entire movie an otherworldly quality that no amount of color grading could fake. The lighting makes every scene feel slightly off-kilter, like the sun itself is an unreliable narrator. That natural phenomenon becomes a character in its own right, keeping the audience as unsettled as the characters on screen.
For pop-culture audiences, Love Is the Monster lands in that sweet spot between prestige drama and crowd-pleasing thriller. It’s got a hook that’s easy to pitch - couples therapy meets folk horror - and a cast that can carry both the emotional weight and the suspense. And with García anchoring a key role, there’s an added layer of prestige that could help it stand out in a crowded lineup.
The film holds its world premiere at TIFF on October 13, 2025, which means audiences won’t have to wait long to see if the trailer’s promise holds up. For now, the footage does its job: it grabs you by the collar and whispers that this vacation is going to get very, very complicated. If you’ve ever sat through an awkward couples therapy session and thought, “This could be worse,” this movie is your answer. Bring popcorn, but maybe hold the romance.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
