The Haunted Nursery* (2025) is a chilling supernatural horror film that explores the terrifying consequences of moving into a house with secrets that refuse to stay buried. At its core, the story revolves around Anna Clarke, played by Florence Pugh, a young mother seeking a fresh start for her family after enduring personal tragedy. She, her partner, and their daughter Lily relocate to an old Victorian mansion in the remote English countryside, hoping that the quiet setting will help them heal. However, the nursery in their new home soon reveals itself to be more than just a nursery — it becomes the heart of a growing nightmare.
From the moment they settle in, strange and unsettling events begin to occur. At first, these disturbances are subtle: whispered lullabies echoing through empty hallways, toys that shift position on their own, and unexplained cold spots that seem to linger around the old nursery room. As the family tries to rationalize what’s happening, it becomes clear that these events are neither random nor harmless. The eerie atmosphere intensifies as night falls, and the house seems alive with memories of something dark and tragic.
Anna’s daughter Lily begins to speak of a mysterious “woman in the shadows” who visits her at night. These encounters blur the line between reality and imagination, pushing Anna’s sense of stability to its limits. Determined to protect her child, Anna starts investigating the house’s history. What she discovers is a hidden past involving a nanny’s disappearance and the mysterious death of another child decades earlier. The nursery, once a symbol of innocence, now seems to be imbued with the vengeful spirit of a tormented soul unwilling to move on.
As Anna uncovers a hidden diary filled with cryptic warnings and disturbing drawings, she is forced to confront not only the malevolent force within the house but also her own grief and trauma. The haunting becomes intimately tied to her emotional journey, making the stakes more personal than she ever imagined. This interplay between psychological depth and supernatural horror is one of the film’s most compelling aspects, as it uses the unsettling presence in the nursery to explore themes of loss, motherhood, and unresolved pain.
Director Emily Cross crafts a story that goes beyond jump scares, building tension through atmosphere and emotional stakes. Every creak of the floorboard and flicker of light deepens the sense of dread, creating an immersive experience that keeps viewers on edge. At its heart, *The Haunted Nursery* isn’t just about a haunted room — it’s a haunting tale about confronting the darkest corners of the past in order to protect the future.
