Home / Arts and Entertainment / Polly's Perilous Night: Facing Demons, Mutilation, and a Deadly Box in Gripping Horror
Polly's Perilous Night: Facing Demons, Mutilation, and a Deadly Box in Gripping Horror
10 Oct
Summary
- Polly, a young woman, faces a sinister old woman and a deadly box
- Polly subjects herself to gory self-mutilations to avoid her fate
- The film's atmospheric horror elements and Fanning's compelling performance

On the night of October 10, 2025, Polly, a young woman, finds herself at the center of a chilling horror story. Polly, played by Dakota Fanning, is revealed to be in a state of emotional and physical distress, anxiously preparing for an important interview. However, her night takes a dark turn when an old woman, played by the creepy Kathryn Hunter, knocks on her door and forces Polly to confront a deadly wooden box.
The old woman informs Polly that she will die that night, but Polly may be able to avoid her fate if she fills the box with three items: something she hates, something she needs, and something she loves. What follows is a harrowing night of soul-searching and self-mutilation for Polly, as she turns to various people, including her mother and sister, for help in protecting herself and her young niece from the box's sinister machinations.
Director Bryan Bertino's atmospheric horror elements, including an assaultive sound design and jump scares, create a nightmarish atmosphere that mirrors Polly's unraveling mind. Fanning's compelling performance anchors the film, as she commands the screen for long stretches, navigating the psychological murkiness and grappling with the societal ills of misogyny and aimlessness that the film explores.