There’s a reason VAN LIFE is catching the attention of horror fans right now, and it’s not because it’s louder, faster, or more extreme than everything else out there. It’s because Thor Moreno understands something a lot of modern horror seems to forget: isolation alone can be terrifying if you let it sit long enough.

Moreno has built a reputation for films that don’t rush to explain themselves or soften the blow, and VAN LIFE fits squarely into that mindset. Instead of stacking scares or piling on mythology, the film leans into a fear that’s painfully basic—being alone, cut off, and surrounded by nature that doesn’t care whether you’re ready or not.

Right now, horror feels split down the middle. On one side, there are movies that want to be clever, symbolic, and endlessly dissected. On the other hand, there’s a growing appetite for films that trust discomfort. VAN LIFE lands in that second camp, and Moreno doesn’t try to dress it up.

What grabbed me immediately wasn’t some big moment or shocking reveal—it was how familiar the fear felt. No monsters jumping out. Just the slow realization that help isn’t coming. As someone who watches way too much horror, I kept thinking, “There’s nothing scarier than isolation in the woods, because once you’re out there, nature doesn’t owe you anything.”

That’s where Moreno’s work connects. He doesn’t romanticize the situation or turn it into a charade. The film feels dirty in a way that’s refreshing, like it’s more interested in making you uneasy than impressing you, and that confidence shows.

https://youtu.be/4ZEd50Jg5rQ?si=wBoLDcolFnCD5eVg 

In a moment where horror audiences are burned out on noise, VAN LIFE stands out by trusting simplicity—and trusting the audience to sit with it. That’s a very Thor Moreno move, and it’s why this film feels right on time. The film’s camp said an official release date will be announced soon.