June 24, 2025

Movie Review: The Twilight Saga: Blood Moon (2025)
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

It’s been over a decade since Bella Swan last whispered about forever—and now, The Twilight Saga: Blood Moon breathes new (undead) life into a franchise that defined a generation of supernatural romance.

Set fifteen years after the events of Breaking Dawn Part 2, Blood Moon follows Renesmee Cullen (Emilia Jones), the now fully grown half-human, half-vampire daughter of Bella and Edward, as she grapples with her identity, her powers, and a troubling prophecy that speaks of a “hybrid queen” who could either unite or destroy both vampire and werewolf kind.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson return—not just in nostalgic flashbacks, but in present-day mentor roles. Stewart’s Bella is now the most grounded of the Cullens, while Pattinson’s Edward is more brooding than ever, haunted by visions of his daughter’s possible future. Taylor Lautner also returns as Jacob, still awkwardly caught between protector and… kind-of father-in-law?

What’s surprising is how much this film leans into lore. Director Catherine Hardwicke returns to the saga with a darker tone, exploring vampire covens from Eastern Europe, a new werewolf tribe from South America, and even flashbacks to the original Volturi uprising. There’s tension, political drama, and—yes—plenty of slow-motion stares in moonlight.

Jones does a solid job leading the next generation, and her chemistry with newcomer Leo Woodall (playing a mysterious nomadic vampire with a secret past) brings back the swoon factor that defined the originals. There’s even a subtle love triangle brewing—but it’s less angsty and more mature.

The action scenes are flashier than ever, thanks to modern VFX, and the final battle in an ancient snow-covered cathedral is pure Gothic spectacle. Still, some moments drag, and a few callbacks feel more like fan-service than substance.

Verdict: Twilight Saga: Blood Moon isn’t perfect, but it’s better than it has any right to be. Equal parts nostalgia trip and supernatural reboot, it delivers just enough sparkle to make fans believe in forbidden love once again.