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Horror film

Welcome to the Circle (2020): Cast, Ratings & Where to Watch

Welcome to the Circle (2020) movie poster

Welcome to the Circle is a 2020 horror film directed by David H. Fowler, starring Ben Cotton as Grady, Cindy Busby and Matthew MacCaull. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes. Its Echo Score is 33/100. Stream it on Hoopla and Kanopy, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Welcome to the Circle (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
David H. Fowler
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Welcome to the Circle About?

The premise of Welcome to the Circle without spoilers.

During a family camping trip, a sudden bear attack leaves a father and daughter stranded and at the mercy of a dangerous demon-worshipping cult known as The Circle. An infiltrator within the cult, secretly communicating with a former member named Grady, attempts to orchestrate a rescue mission. Grady plans to lead a small group into the heart of The Circle to save the trapped individuals, including the father and daughter, from the menacing demon known as Percy Stephens.

Where to watch

Where to Watch Welcome to the Circle

Stream it on Hoopla and Kanopy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Welcome to the Circle Cast & Characters

Ben Cotton leads the cast as Grady, with Cindy Busby as Rebekah and Matthew MacCaull as Greg. Directed by David H. Fowler; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Welcome to the Circle

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Ratings

Welcome to the Circle Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 33/100, strongest in sensory experience (48) and weakest in character & emotion (25).

33 /100

Welcome to the Circle Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, the film struggles to deliver a cohesive experience, with widespread criticism of its acting, narrative clarity, and technical execution. While a few reviewers acknowledge moments of visual intrigue and effective horror atmosphere, these are outweighed by reports of hammy performances, confusing plot structure, and inconsistent production values. The limited replay appeal further underscores the film's shortcomings, resulting in a generally unfavorable consensus among both critics and audiences.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 38

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits uneven cinematography and production design. Reviewers note horrendous camera work and struggling prop handling, while a few highlight inventive set pieces and atmospheric visuals. The editing does not compensate for these flaws, leading to a disjointed visual flow. Consequently, the overall craftsmanship remains below average.

  • Character & Emotion 25

    When it comes to character and emotion, the acting is consistently described as hammy, horrible, and among the worst encountered. Multiple sources criticize the lack of chemistry and superficial performances, with only a solitary positive mention of thrilling acting. The pervasive negative sentiment drives the character rating well into the low range.

  • Story & Flow 38

    Regarding story and flow, the plot is often labeled convoluted, confusing, and disappointing, with an ending that fails to resolve narrative threads. Some reviewers appreciate the originality of cult themes and paradoxical elements, yet the overall coherence suffers. The mixed but predominantly negative feedback places the story rating in the low‑mid range.

  • Sensory Experience 48

    In the sensory domain, the film delivers occasional effective horror cues, with praise for atmospheric music and creepy mannequin visuals. However, sound design and visual consistency are marred by uneven execution. The combination of sporadic strengths and notable weaknesses results in a moderate sensory score.

  • Rewatch Factor 32

    The rewatch factor is limited, as many viewers describe the movie as a one‑time experience lacking lasting appeal. Some find it watchable for its gore or unique cult imagery, yet the overall consensus points to low replay value. This sentiment drives the rewatch rating toward the lower end.

Details

Welcome to the Circle Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “The Circle - Willkommen in der Hölle” and “Witamy w Kręgu”.

Also known as
  • The Circle - Willkommen in der Hölle
  • Witamy w Kręgu
  • Не выходи из круга
  • 怪圈
  • Bem-Vindo ao Círculo

Seen Welcome to the Circle?

FAQ

Welcome to the Circle FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Welcome to the Circle, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Welcome to the Circle?

Welcome to the Circle runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was Welcome to the Circle released?

Welcome to the Circle was released on February 28, 2020.

Who directed Welcome to the Circle?

Welcome to the Circle was directed by David H. Fowler.

Who is in the cast of Welcome to the Circle?

Welcome to the Circle stars Ben Cotton as Grady, Cindy Busby as Rebekah and Matthew MacCaull as Greg, among 12 credited actors.

Where can I watch Welcome to the Circle?

In the US, Welcome to the Circle is streaming on Hoopla, Kanopy and Plex and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

Does Welcome to the Circle have a post-credit scene?

No. Welcome to the Circle has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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