Frightfest London 2025: ‘Cover’ Review

Stars: Cameron Francis, Katherine Lozon, Gregg Baker Jr., Garin Jones, Jamie-Lyn Markos, Christopher Schmidt | Written and Directed by Cameron Francis

Each year at FrightFest London, the festival uses its large line-up to admirably shine a light on first-time filmmakers from across the globe. Giving these debuts a large screen premiere in a vibrant place like London’s Leicester Square is a fantastic way to start brand-new careers, and to give audiences a chance to see bright-eyed creatives whose filmographies they will happily follow. Nestled within 2025’s offerings is Cover, an impressive work from Cameron Francis, who is the film’s star, writer, director, producer, and editor.

Suffering from insomnia, travelling stamp dealer Trevor Conroy (Cameron Francis) is determined to meet a collector whom he can sell valuable stock to. What should be a straightforward journey is interrupted by Macy (Katherine Lozon), who pleads for help to escape her abusive boyfriend. Trevor reluctantly agrees to give her a ride, but their road trip becomes sidetracked by the discovery that the pair’s connection runs deeper than a chance encounter.

Written down, a thriller about a stamp dealer may seem like an odd choice to watch, yet Francis utilises his talents on both sides of the camera to effectively bring alive this character-focused work. Central to Cover is Trevor, who is haunted by a massive regret that leaves him with low self-worth and intentions of cutting himself off from others. This is challenged as he travels with Macy, who lives a life trapped under the thumb of her volatile boyfriend. As the spectres of violence and greed loom over the dual leads, they both struggle to move forward with their lives amidst questions regarding if forgiveness is possible.

Admittedly, there are times when the small budget stretches thin and the cracks appear. It is understandable that Francis may want to bring alive a fight scene or showcase a suddenly stopping car, yet it can be distracting when the movements appear rather stiff. It is also noticeable how the impact of being shot with a bullet is downplayed, with characters often reacting as though it is just a flesh wound. However, these are miniscule issues within this compelling tale that delivers interesting thriller elements, while also being strongest during the character drama.

A large reason why this works is that viewers have spent time with this pair, seen them grow in each other’s company, and believe in their bond thanks to the effective performances. Their mutual understanding leads the duo to see one another as rounded humans, with any preconceptions being challenged across their journey. What remains is a well-constructed slice of low-budget cinema, an engaging story about two lost souls grappling with their inner demons, and an educational work about stamp collecting. In short, do not run for cover, but run towards the fantastic feature known as Cover.

**** 4/5

Cover screened as part of this year’s London Frightfest.