The Oval Portrait (2025) Review: Atmospheric & Well-Crafted!

The Oval Portrait, written and directed by Adrian Langley, marks another atmospheric entry from the filmmaker behind the Butchers trilogy. Taking inspiration from Poe’s haunting short story of the same name, Langley transforms a brief gothic parable into a full-length supernatural thriller. With its chilling premise — a cursed portrait binding the lives of three strangers — the film leans deeply into the eerie romanticism that defines classic gothic horror. Featuring performances by Michael Swatton, Pragya Shail, Paul Thomas, Simon Phillips, and Louisa Capulet, this adaptation attempts to balance psychological terror with old-fashioned mystery.

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The plot expands Poe’s classic tale into a gothic ghost story set in a mysterious antique shop. The plot follows three strangers — a petty thief, an aspiring artist, and a secretive shopkeeper — whose lives become entangled through a cursed painting. When the thief breaks in to steal the exquisite oval portrait, he unwittingly awakens a vengeful spirit that attacks him. As the artist and shopkeeper are drawn into the chaos, the truth behind the painting’s tragic history begins to surface. The portrait’s curse soon threatens to consume them all, blurring the line between art and death.

Technically, I was very impressed by this film. As someone who deeply admires Victorian-era architecture and aesthetics, The Oval Portrait feels like it’s been plucked straight from that period. Every frame of the antique shop is meticulously crafted — the worn wooden furniture, the dusty chandeliers, the candlelit corners — all contribute to a sense of authenticity that’s hard to fake. The production design captures the look and feel of a bygone era, while the color palette, drenched in sepia tones and muted golds, evokes the melancholy grandeur of old-school Hollywood gothic dramas.

Adrian Langley, who also shot this film, deserves credit for maintaining this visual consistency, giving the film a painterly texture that matches its subject matter perfectly. But perhaps the standout technical achievement here is Andrew Morgan Smith’s mesmerizing score. His orchestral compositions, filled with stirring strings and melancholic violins, elevate every moment, from quiet dread to emotional revelation. For a modestly budgeted independent film, the craftsmanship on display — especially in its sound design and visual presentation — is nothing short of remarkable. Langley clearly understands the art of mood-building, and here, atmosphere becomes as vital a character as the cursed.

The performances add another strong layer to The Oval Portrait. Michael Swatton, as Ambrose the shopkeeper, brings a quiet intensity that fits the film’s gothic tone, while Pragya Shail as Ava, the artist, gives the story its emotional heartbeat. Both characters are well established in the first act, allowing their motivations and fears to unfold naturally as the mystery deepens. The horror and suspense elements work well too — the film isn’t necessarily terrifying, but the way Langley presents each eerie moment deserves praise. The atmosphere, camera movement, and sound design combine to create a slow, creeping tension rather than relying on cheap scares.

However, the biggest drawback is the pacing. At 106 minutes, the runtime feels excessive for such a straightforward story. There are moments where scenes linger too long or repeat similar beats, slowing the momentum. The narrative also tends to overexplain certain details that could’ve been left to the audience’s imagination, which slightly dulls its mystery. Trimming about twenty minutes would have tightened the film significantly and preserved its haunting rhythm without sacrificing depth.

Overall, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Oval Portrait is an atmospheric and visually impressive gothic ghost story that successfully captures the essence of Poe’s macabre imagination. Adrian Langley’s direction, combined with Andrew Morgan Smith’s evocative score and rich production design, creates a film that feels timeless and hauntingly elegant. While its pacing issues hold it back from greatness, it still stands out as a beautifully crafted indie thriller that celebrates the spirit of classic gothic horror.

‘The Oval Portrait’ Rating – 3.25/5