Polaroid
"Beware this camera... Once you take it, it takes you."
Bird Fitcher, a quiet high school student with a wary streak, stumbles onto a vintage Polaroid that feels almost alive. Soon she learns the camera is tied to a string of deadly fates, and anyone pictured by it meets a grim end. What starts as curiosity turns into a fight for survival as her... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: February 23, 2026
About Polaroid
Bird Fitcher, a quiet high school student with a wary streak, stumbles onto a vintage Polaroid that feels almost alive. Soon she learns the camera is tied to a string of deadly fates, and anyone pictured by it meets a grim end. What starts as curiosity turns into a fight for survival as her circle of friends realizes the device is more than a curiosity it is a trap. As night closes in, they race to uncover the camera's dark history before the next snapshot seals their doom. Trust frays, mistakes stack up, and the group fights to stay one step ahead of a presence that seems to be watching them.
Released in 2019, Polaroid was directed by Lars Klevberg with a screenplay by Blair Butler, drawn from an original concept rather than adapted from a novel or comic. The film presents a tight horror framework built to maximize tension through character dynamics and a single ominous object.
Reception & Themes Critics describe a compact thriller that leans into mood and suspense rather than gore. The story explores curiosity and the consequences of crossing boundaries, while spotlighting Bird and her friends as they confront escalating danger and shifts in trust. The film uses the camera as a lens on teenage friendship under pressure, turning a late night into a test of loyalty and impulse. The tone stays brisk, avoiding melodrama and keeping the focus on the choices the characters make under stress.
Cultural Impact is limited; the haunted camera trope has appeared in other thrillers, but Polaroid has not spawned widely cited quotes or scenes that entered everyday conversation. It functions as a solid genre piece rather than a defining moment in modern horror cinema.
Box office details for Polaroid were modest and not widely disclosed, reflecting a limited release and niche appeal within the horror market. Earnings remained peripheral to major franchises.
Details
- Release Date
- January 10, 2019
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Rating
- PG-13
- User Ratings
- 1,123 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Country
- Canada
- Studio
- Dimension Films +3 more
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Kathryn Prescott
Bird Fitcher
Tyler Young
Connor Bell
Keenan Tracey
Devin Lane
Samantha Logan
Kasey Walters
Priscilla Quintana
Mina Rodriguez
Javier Botet
The Entity
Mitch Pileggi
Sheriff Thomas Pembroke
Davi Santos
Tyler Drew
Katie Stevens
Avery Bishop
Grace Zabriskie
Lena Sable
Director: Lars Klevberg
Written by: Blair Butler