Stairwell, Swayne McManus’ Directorial debut, is a tightly plotted horror that doesn’t necessarily reinvent the genre — it hits many of the expected beats of a straight-to-streaming horror flick. The tension is steady, and the scares are somewhat effective, but much of the film feels by-the-books and reads clearly as a first-attempt. That said, Jack Johnstone carries the film with a performance that welcomes us in with a sweet naivete that evolves into something more brutal. It is clear from the beginning that Johnstone understood the assignment where perhaps others didn’t. The performance is a reminder that though an actor is out of a film’s league, it can’t change the writing.
Johnstone’s Richard is a character who feels wholly lived-in: trapped, terrified, and yet persistently human. He reacts with genuine fear, but also with a sly wit that illuminates even the more grotesque moments. These human moments infuse the predictable writing with some much needed life.
Stairwell features a large ensemble of creatures and characters. A stand-out being Naomi Janumala, as she continues to make a name for herself in entertainment as the niece of legendary bollywood star, Johnny Lever. Janumala delivers a competent and steady performance that complements Johnstone’s energy.
Nevertheless, Sywane McManus does utilise the small budget in an efficient way, extracting the stairwell for all its worth — the shadows, the cold concrete, and the grimy floors. The space manages to feel convincingly lived-in and unsettling, giving the film a palpable sense of place, an anchoring element in a film set primarily in a singular location. Yet it’s Johnstone’s performance that makes Stairwell more than just a tense thriller — it becomes a showcase of a clear dedication to the craft in the face of a challenging production.
By the time the credits roll, it’s clear that Jack Johnstone is a talent to watch, elevating Stairwell from a genre exercise to a memorable cinematic experience.
