Do Not Enter, the 2026 horror thriller directed by Marc Klasfeld and released by Lionsgate on March 20, delivers a timely cautionary tale wrapped in urban exploration and supernatural dread. Adapted from David Morrell’s 2005 novel Creepers, the film follows a group of thrill-seeking livestreamers known as the Creepers. Led by characters portrayed by Jake Manley, Adeline Rudolph, and Francesca Reale, they venture into the abandoned Paragon Hotel in New Jersey—an infamous site rumored to conceal a $300 million fortune from its mobster past, along with restless ghosts.
What begins as a high-stakes content-creation stunt quickly spirals into terror. The Creepers must contend not only with a rival group hunting the same treasure but also with shadowy supernatural entities that stalk the decaying halls. The narrative cleverly merges found-footage intimacy with traditional thriller pacing, creating moments of genuine suspense through effective jump scares and a mounting sense of claustrophobia. The hotel itself functions as a compelling character, its crumbling architecture amplifying isolation and paranoia.
Performances remain solid within the genre’s confines. Manley and Rudolph bring credible urgency to their roles, while supporting actors Nicholas Hamilton and Shane Paul McGhie add tension through interpersonal conflicts. Javier Botet’s creature work stands out for its unsettling physicality. At 91 minutes, the film maintains a brisk rhythm, though the final act shifts toward more conventional slasher elements, slightly diluting the earlier atmospheric buildup.
Critics and early audiences have noted occasional plot inconsistencies and a script that occasionally panders to younger viewers. Nevertheless, Do Not Enter succeeds as an entertaining, contained horror experience that thoughtfully examines the perilous cost of chasing digital fame. It earns a respectable 6.5 out of 10. For fans of atmospheric haunted-house stories with a modern twist, this release offers worthwhile chills without reinventing the genre. It may not linger long in memory, yet it provides a satisfying evening of suspenseful entertainment.
