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Horror film

Nails (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Nails (2017) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
40%
worldwide gross
$41.2K
Echo Score
45
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Nails (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Nails

· 8 more
Ratings

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).

45 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Nails Box Office & Budget

Nails grossed $41,249 worldwide on a $5 million budget.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$41.2K

International
$41.2K
Budget
$5M
Videos

Nails Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Nails.

NAILS (2017) Official Trailer (HD) Shauna Macdonald, Ross Noble | SUPERNATURAL HORROR
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What incident leads Dana to the Hopewell Rehabilitation Hospital?

Cars

Cars in Nails

5 cars on screen, including the 2000 Volkswagen Golf IV Typ 1J and the 1998 BMW 3 E46.

All 5 cars
  • 2000 Volkswagen Golf IV Typ 1J in Nails 2000 Volkswagen Golf IV Typ 1J Important role
  • 1998 BMW 3 E46 in Nails 1998 BMW 3 E46 Minor role
  • Renault Clio 2 in Nails Renault Clio 2 Background role
  • Renault Clio 4 in Nails Renault Clio 4 Background role

Seen Nails?

FAQ

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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