Fantastic Fest 2025: ‘Coyotes’ is better than it has any right to be
Colin Minihan sinks his teeth into a scrumptious treat.
From The Masque of the Red Death to Ready or Not and The Menu, horror has a long tradition of eating the rich. And who doesn’t love an epic mangling of the excesses of the elite? Out of Fantastic Fest, Coyotes (written by Nick Simon and Tad Daggerhart, who both conceived the idea with Daniel Meersand) is the latest addition to that storied history. With its bonkers premise of Attack of the Coyotes, the feature film (directed by Colin Minihan) treats the audience to wacky setpieces, deliciously dark humor, and a razor-sharp message perfect for 2025.
The story follows rich couple Scott (Justin Long) and Liv (Kate Bosworth) and their daughter Chloe (Mila Harris) when they spend a quiet night at home. In their lavish estate, they assume they’re seemingly protected from the elements and intruders, but they would be dead wrong. Flesh-hungry coyotes emerge from the shadows to sink their teeth into the meat of the rich and eventually break into the family home. In their fight for survival, Scott, Liv, and Chloe scheme a makeshift cage (akin to a shark cage divers use) as a protective enclosure. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, especially when you’re wealthy.
While Coyote could certainly have been crazier and more unhinged, the film serves up plenty of situational laughs and grisly violence. As the night wears on, Scott grows more primal in keeping his family safe, with Long leaning into the rage-fueled mania required. Scott soon discovers something hidden in the home that clues him into why the coyotes have gone full Cujo. From gnarly, blood-dripping practical effects to smart camera work (owed also to cinematographer Bradley Stuckel), the outlandish creature feature ticks all the right boxes for a damn good time with horrifying pleasures.
Minihan’s mastery behind the camera lens makes the story feel big, bold, and larger than life. Known for 2018’s excellent queer film, What Keeps You Alive, he delivers striking visual flair that further boosts the narrative. Coyotes, which would make a great double feature with Cocaine Bear or Frogs, banks on the commitment of Justin Long and Kate Bosworth selling the hell out of the script. And their performances are both campy and heartfelt, leading to one of the best horror/comedies of the year.
Coyotes hits theaters on October 3.
