A grandmother’s love can be as deep as the ocean and as endless as the galaxy. This is played out to devastating effect in Anything for Jackson, a bleakly funny film that turns a trip to the grandparents’ into a house of horrors. The story follows Audrey (Sheila McCarthy) and Henry (Julian Richings) as they kidnap a pregnant woman and make a sincere attempt to try and resurrect their deceased grandson into the body of her unborn child. Needless to say, things go sideways for the couple as they’ve summoned more than they bargained for. 

To divulge more about the story is to veer into spoilers, and make no mistake this is a film that thrives on the unexpected. Director Justin G. Dyck’s background in made-for-television movies gives the film an overall unassuming air that very quickly gives way to a tension that isn’t even cracked with the occasional joke. For those that are jumpscare adverse, it is worth noting that the film has quite a few, but balances it out with some killer gore effects. If there’s one thing the film suffers with is filling in some essential background – it comes at weird moments and always takes a moment to figure out the timeline considering the overall grey coloring of the unrelenting winter. 

A tale of love, loss, and the ghosts that haunt us all, Anything for Jackson is full of the type of surprises that are missing from independent horror. Packed with excellent performances and a tight script, it’ll keep even the most jaded horror fans on the edge of their seats until the very last moments. I cannot recommend this film highly enough – if you’re a fan of blood-soaked dark comedies, this is a must-watch.

Rating: A-
Reviewed by Cassie Jo Ochoa