Nails (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Nails is a 2017 horror film starring Richard Foster-King as Eric Nilsson, Nails, Ross Noble and Steve Wall. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes and earned $41,249 worldwide on a $5 million budget. Critics gave it 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 25m (85 min)
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Broadmedia Studios
- Budget
- $5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Nails About?
The premise of Nails without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After a devastating car accident leaves her physically trapped, track coach Dana Milgrom finds herself battling for survival in a hospital room. A disturbing entity known as Nails begins to haunt her, and as her cries for help are ignored, Dana’s perception of reality becomes increasingly fragile. She must confront a terrifying darkness and fight to prove her sanity while struggling to escape her physical and psychological torment.
Nails Themes & Keywords
· 38 tags- one word title
- female protagonist
- evil presence
- husband wife relationship
- younger version of character
- character name as title
- violence
- grindhouse film
- woman in jeopardy
- mother daughter relationship
- supernatural horror
- irish horror
+26 more Show fewer
- jump scare
- no one believes the protagonist
- hospital
- hospital room
- body
- trapped
- car accident
- coach
- track
- near death
- car
- supernatural power
- paralysis
- sky
- track switch
- bed
- bedroom
- target
- brush
- recovery
- survival
- ashes
- story
- blood
- title spoken by character
- actor shares first name with character
Nails Cast & Characters
Richard Foster-King leads the cast as Eric Nilsson, Nails, with Ross Noble as Trevor Helms and Steve Wall as Steve Milgrom.
- Richard Foster-King as Eric Nilsson, Nails
- Ross Noble as Trevor Helms
- Steve Wall as Steve Milgrom
- Leah McNamara as Gemma Milgrom
Also Starring in Nails
· 8 more- Charlotte Bradley Elizabeth Leaming
- Muireann D'Arcy Ashley
- Robert O'Mahoney Dr. Ron Stengel
- Shauna MacDonald
- Dennis Bartok Earl Rossiter
- Kreeta Taponen
- Amelia de Buyl Pisco Gray Woman
- Conor Scott AV Technician
Nails Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Nails 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in sensory experience (65) and weakest in story & flow (30).
Nails Echo Score Breakdown
The film delivers a mixed experience marked by effective but unremarkable craftsmanship and notable narrative shortcomings. While its sound design and occasional jump scares generate moments of tension, the story’s thin construction and uneven pacing undermine sustained engagement. Performances are competent yet often constrained by underdeveloped characters. Overall, the balance of intermittent thrills against a predictable plot yields a modest impact.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 50
The film’s craft is competent but largely conventional. Direction leans on familiar framing and pacing, with editing that maintains clear continuity but rarely surprises. Production design and cinematography manage to evoke an eerie atmosphere within budgetary limits, though visual choices feel understated rather than distinctive. In net effect, the technical execution supports the film adequately without elevating it beyond its standard boundaries.
- Character & Emotion 60
In terms of character and emotion, performances offer sympathetic moments amid limited depth. The lead delivers a grounded and believable portrayal, and select supporting roles add occasional personality. However, many characters remain static, their motivations underexplored. Dialogue provides enough variety to sustain interest but rarely fosters strong empathy. Overall, the acting anchors the film adequately while emotional resonance falls short of full immersion.
- Story & Flow 30
The narrative framework is thin and unevenly paced throughout. A confined setting contributes to a sense of claustrophobia but also highlights plot contrivances and unresolved questions. Motivations and thematic connections between the ghostly premise and character arcs lack sufficient development, leading to predictability and occasional confusion. Despite a central conceit with promise, the film’s storytelling remains too insubstantial to sustain engagement from beginning to end.
- Sensory Experience 65
When it comes to sensory experience, the film generates intermittent chill through a moody score and well-timed sound cues. The incorporation of security camera footage introduces a fresh layer of atmosphere, and sporadic jump scares succeed in eliciting brief reactions. Visual styling favors a muted palette that suits the horror tone, even if it rarely surprises. On balance, the sensory elements contribute a reliable if not relentless sense of unease.
- Rewatch Factor 35
In terms of rewatch potential, the film’s appeal is limited by its narrative inconsistencies. Initial tension may invite a second viewing, yet the plot holes and thin character development become more pronounced on subsequent watches. While isolated moments of fright retain some value, the overall lack of thematic depth and cohesion diminishes lasting appeal. Consequently, the film holds modest replay value primarily for genre completists.
-
IMDb 4.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 40% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 23%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 54% User score
See on TMDB
Nails Plot Summary
What happens in Nails from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Partially paralyzed after a harrowing hit-and-run incident while jogging, Dana Milgrom finds herself enduring a challenging recovery at Hopewell Rehabilitation Hospital. Her discomfort with the hospital escalates when she suspects that someone is stalking her during the night. However, her nurse, Trevor Helms, dismisses her fears as unlikely.
During her stay, Dana’s husband Steve Milgrom and their daughter Gemma Milgrom come to visit. Trevor expresses his concerns to Steve about the possibility of Dana hallucinating. On her part, Gemma has a chance encounter with the ever-watchful hospital director, Elizabeth Leaming. Meanwhile, Steve shares news about Ashley, a promising new recruit for the track team he coaches, further complicating the family dynamics.
Full summary
The whole story of Nails, scene by scene
Nails Box Office & Budget
Nails grossed $41,249 worldwide on a $5 million budget.
Worldwide gross
$41.2K
- International
- $41.2K
- Budget
- $5M
Nails Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Nails.
How Well Do You Know Nails?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What incident leads Dana to the Hopewell Rehabilitation Hospital?
Cars in Nails
5 cars on screen, including the 2000 Volkswagen Golf IV Typ 1J and the 1998 BMW 3 E46.
-
2000 Volkswagen Golf IV Typ 1J Important role -
1998 BMW 3 E46 Minor role -
Renault Clio 2 Background role -
Renault Clio 4 Background role
Seen Nails?
Movies Like Nails
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Nails, Nails and Danika.
Nails FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Nails, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Nails?
Nails runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).
When was Nails released?
Nails was released on October 25, 2017.
Who is in the cast of Nails?
Nails stars Richard Foster-King as Eric Nilsson, Nails, Ross Noble as Trevor Helms and Steve Wall as Steve Milgrom, among 12 credited actors.
How much did Nails make at the box office?
Nails grossed $41,249 worldwide on a budget of $5 million.
How is Nails rated?
Nails has 4.7/10 on IMDb, 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54% on TMDB.
Does Nails have a post-credit scene?
No. Nails has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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