“Push” slams through the familiar home‑invasion trope and ignites it with the visceral terror of pregnancy.
Natalie Flores (Alicia Sanz), eight months pregnant, is trying to rebuild after loss—using her real‑estate license to start fresh in America. But a sneaky open‑house showing turns into a nightmare: a sadistic man (Raúl Castillo) attacks, triggering premature labor and transforming her into a cornered prey with no time to spare. Think Kitchen Sink Panic Therapy—where every second could cost her and her unborn child.
🎬 Festival pedigree & streaming date
- Premiered at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival—a legit horror showcase.
- U.S. premiere at Cinequest, taking home Best Horror Feature.
- Exclusive streaming debut on Shudder on July 11, 2025.
🎥 A Closer Look at the Context
David Charbonier and Justin Powell built their rep with The Boy Behind the Door and The Djinn—lean, suspense‑heavy indie horrors. Their style? Tight, personal, almost claustrophobic fear. Fangoria called “Push” a continuation of their knack for “intimate, visceral suspense”.
In Bloody Disgusting’s review from Sitges, Meagan Navarro praised its stripped‑down efficiency:
“a lean, mean home invasion thriller that plays like a breathless chase in a briskly paced 90‑minute runtime.”
So yes, we’re talking efficient fear—no filler, just rising pulse.
💥 What makes “Push” stick?
- Pregnancy & peril – It’s not enough to survive a killer; Natalie’s on a labor clock. That physical urgency overlays every scream, every breath.
- Home invasion + maternal terror – We’ve seen intruders in abandoned cabins, but this is a suburban crucible: safe is a lie.
- Performances & visuals – Early word praises Sanz’s physical and emotional grit, and the trailers show some seriously slick cinematography.
💭 Final pulse‑quickening thought
Is it a genre milestone? Maybe not. But damn—“Push” is a relentless, gut‑hammer of tension. No grand symbolism, no metaphor overload. Just a woman trapped, bleeding seconds, aching for escape. I love that.
If you’re into horror that doesn’t let up until the credits roll—set your alarm for July 11. Or let the trailer play one more time. I did.
