DRAGN (2025) Review: A Drone Hunt Stuck in Neutral

This DRAGN review starts with a simple pitch: a corporate bonding trip turns deadly when a rogue drone starts hunting the staff. Directed by Peter Webber, the 2025 Irish production aims for a lean, 91-minute chase through the woods. It mostly delivers B-movie basics, with uneven results.

Critics have been split, and so is this review.

DRAGN Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The DRAGN plot is easy to follow. A group of coworkers heads into a remote forest for a team-building retreat, led by characters such as Tom Wilson, played by James Paxton. Reports describe the threat as an experimental military drone whose test has gone badly wrong.

The group soon realises that something is watching them from above, and that it is not friendly. From there, the film becomes a survival story about staying hidden and staying together. The official synopsis frames it as a tale of human fragility and the dangers of AI.

The genre label is slippery. Listings call it action and drama, while other sources call it sci-fi horror or a tech thriller. In practice, it plays like a stripped-down thriller.

What Works in DRAGN

The premise is clean and instantly understandable. A forest setting, a handful of office workers and a machine that never gets tired is a reliable recipe for tension.

The drone itself is the best part. Some reviewers praised its menacing presence, and the idea of a threat that watches from above gives the woods an unsettling feel.

• Short runtime: At 91 minutes, the film rarely outstays its welcome.

• Simple hook: The setup needs no explanation, so the chase starts quickly.

• Ensemble approach: One positive review singled out the group dynamic as a strength.

Film Threat called it a straight-to-VOD midnight movie best enjoyed with lowered expectations. That is fair advice, and it describes the film's real appeal.

DRAGN Cast and Performances

The DRAGN cast is led by James Paxton as Tom Wilson, with Lilly Krug as Adele, Carlos Bardem as Daniel, Alice Pagani as Zoja Mangano, Jadran Malkovich as Jacob and Anna Rust as Amanda Wilson. It is a small, international ensemble, which suits the story of colleagues thrown together.

Opinions on the acting differ. One critic liked the ensemble, while others found the performances wooden and the characters forgettable. Stilted dialogue does the actors no favours, and few of them get a moment to stand out.

Carlos Bardem is a recognisable name, but the reviews I have seen do not single out any one performance as a clear highlight.

Where DRAGN Stumbles

The biggest complaint is wasted potential. A story about a rogue AI drone invites big ideas about technology and human weakness, yet critics say the film only gestures at them. One reviewer called it a messy parable about being nice to AI, and another found it tedious and uninspired.

Characters are the second weak spot. When the cast feels interchangeable, the danger carries less weight. A hunt only grips when you care who gets caught.

The film also seems to want to be a bigger movie than its budget allows. Screenage Wasteland said it reaches for the techno-threat films it admires but lacks their substance. Audience scores are low too, with an IMDb rating around 3.3/10 shown on an Amazon listing.

For background and listings, see the DRAGN page on Letterboxd.

Is DRAGN Worth Watching?

DRAGN is worth watching only if you are a fan of low-budget genre films and can forgive rough edges. Critical reception is mostly negative, with a few mixed-to-positive scores, such as 6/10 from Film Threat and 7/10 from Upcoming Horror Movies.

If you want a sharp, thoughtful AI story, look elsewhere. If you want a short, silly night in with a menacing machine, it may do the job.

It works best as a casual stream, not a must-see. Fans of thriller movies with modest ambitions will get the most from it. For something with more bite, our Bring the Law review covers another small-scale genre effort.

Who Will Enjoy DRAGN

• Viewers who like B-movie survival thrillers and straight-to-VOD midnight fare.

• Fans of killer-machine stories who can accept thin characters.

• Anyone after a quick 91-minute watch with low expectations.