PREVIEW: Heresy (2026 Film) - Starring Anneke Sluiters

Preview by Jon Donnis

Salvation comes from the darkest of places in Heresy, Didier Konings’ folk horror fable that explores religious terror, repression and belief. After earning praise during its festival run, the film is set to make its UK digital debut on 28 September courtesy of GrimmVision.

Set in a small Dutch village during the Dark Ages, Heresy follows Frieda, played by Anneke Sluiters, as she attempts to live up to the expectations placed upon her. She tries to be a good wife, contributes to her community, says her prayers and focuses on becoming a mother.

Her life takes a disturbing turn after a traumatic encounter with one of the villagers in the woods. A mysterious presence saves Frieda’s life, but it also latches itself onto her, forcing her to question the beliefs that have shaped her existence.

When Frieda returns to the village unharmed, suspicion quickly follows. The community begins to question whether it was really God who brought her safely home, or whether something far darker was responsible. Beyond the forest, a dark force cloaked in fog appears to be watching.

As the otherworldly creature continues to follow Frieda, strange events begin occurring throughout the village. She is eventually accused of witchcraft and finds herself increasingly isolated as those closest to her turn against her in the name of God.

With its focus on misogyny, bodily autonomy and belief, Heresy looks set to deliver a dark and unsettling folk horror story rooted in religious fear and repression. The film has already drawn comparisons to Robert Eggers’ The Witch and received festival praise, including a description from Dread Central calling it a "stellar psychedelic folk horror".

Heresy arrives on UK digital on 28 September from GrimmVision.

Apple TV - https://apple.co/4z0Q25z

PREVIEW: The Nice Ones (2026 Film) - Ayvianna Snow Makes Her Producing Debut With New Psychological Horror

 

Preview by Jon Donnis

The Nice Ones is shaping up to be an intriguing new addition to the psychological horror and sci-fi thriller landscape, with Joelle Rae and Emrhys Cooper leading a story that takes a seemingly relaxing countryside getaway and turns it into something much more disturbing.

Coming to UK cinemas on 19th November, the film follows a group of friends whose Airbnb escape takes a terrifying turn when Kate witnesses strange lights moving across the night sky. As tensions within the group begin to rise, an unsettling force starts to seep into the house, leaving Kate facing both an otherworldly threat and the darkest parts of her own past.

The combination of psychological horror and science fiction immediately makes The Nice Ones an appealing prospect, particularly with the filmmakers drawing inspiration from genre classics such as The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Written and directed by Peter Stylianou, whose 2024 vampire film Drained marked him as an intriguing new voice in independent filmmaking, the film looks set to take those familiar genre ingredients somewhere suitably sinister.

There is also a particularly exciting story behind the camera, as The Nice Ones marks the producing debut of actor Ayvianna Snow. Having appeared in projects including How to Kill Monsters, Snow has now launched her own production company, Snow Pictures, with The Nice Ones serving as its first feature.

Snow produces alongside Peter Stylianou and Nick Lavelle, making the film an important first step for Snow Pictures while also bringing together several members of the cast and creative team in different roles.

Stylianou has offered an intriguing insight into the ideas behind the film, explaining:

"Instead of making darkness the source of fear, as so many horror films do, I wanted to explore light, and the darker, more disturbing, cult-like side of worshipping it. The Nice Ones is a mix of the Manson Family and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, exploring what happens when something that appears beautiful, pure and inviting becomes deeply sinister."

That idea of turning something normally associated with beauty and safety into a source of fear certainly gives The Nice Ones an interesting hook. Rather than simply relying on darkness to create an atmosphere of dread, the film appears to be playing with the idea that something bright and inviting can be every bit as unsettling.

Alongside Rae and Cooper, the cast includes Donna Preston, known for The Sandman and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Ian Whyte from Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Daniela Norman from Tiny Pretty Things, James Akka from The Sandman, Nick Lavelle from Red XII, Tom Kelsey from National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove and Andrew Lyle-Pinnock from The Little Mermaid.

With its countryside setting, mysterious lights, increasingly strained friendships and an apparently sinister force closing in, The Nice Ones has plenty of ingredients to make this one worth keeping an eye on. The involvement of Snow Pictures also gives the project an added layer of interest, with Snow stepping behind the scenes for her first feature as a producer.

The Nice Ones arrives in UK cinemas on 19th November, while streaming releases in North America and other territories begin from 29th September.

Apple TV - https://apple.co/4AsNDSB

PREVIEW: The Stranger (2026 Film) - Starring Jennifer K. Preston

Preview by Jon Donnis

The Stranger looks set to deliver a chilling blend of family drama, home invasion horror and supernatural terror when it arrives on UK digital this September.

Directed by Paul Gerrard and Mike Clarke in their feature debut, the British horror follows a mother and daughter whose attempt to start a new life in the countryside is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger.

Amanda, played by Jennifer K. Preston, moves with her daughter Karli, played by Isabella Percival, to an isolated bed and breakfast following the murder of her husband during a house robbery. Hoping for a quieter existence, the pair soon find themselves facing a far more disturbing threat.

Their new guest, Kyle, arrives asking for somewhere to stay for the night. Played by Damien Ashley, Kyle initially appears to be a man simply looking for refuge, but his story begins to change as his stay stretches on. Before long, Amanda and Karli become increasingly uneasy about his behaviour and begin to question whether they are safe under their own roof.

The situation takes an even darker turn when Kyle claims that he is being hunted by a group of supernatural killers. With his increasingly bizarre behaviour raising more questions than answers, Amanda and Karli are left wondering whether Kyle is genuinely in danger or manipulating them as part of an elaborate deception.

Part family drama, part horror thriller and part creature feature, The Stranger promises a tense and atmospheric story where the threat comes from an increasingly unwelcome guest.

Following an acclaimed festival run and a win at Grimmfest's Work in Progress Award, the film marks an intriguing feature debut for Gerrard and Clarke, while Damien Ashley's sinister performance looks set to be central to the film's unsettling atmosphere.

The Stranger arrives on UK digital on 14 September from Trinity Content Partners.

COMPETITION: Win Harbinger on Blu-ray

Filled with mythical mayhem, shocking kills and old-school gore, Harbinger is a blood-thirsty occult horror with a nod to Wishmaster, Big and classic British horror. Get ready to experience one wicked fairground attraction… it’s one hell of a ride. 

Harbinger is out now on UK/US digital from Miracle Media and is released on Blu-ray 7 September from 101 Films. 

And to celebrate we have a copy on standard Blu-ray give away!

Synopsis:

Five years after surviving satanic serial killer Henry Decker (Woodward), Julia (Sothcott) is still haunted by the devastating horrors she endured. Plagued by PTSD and terrifying visions of her tormentor and living back with her mother (Ford), her whole life has been on hold, until now, with the maniacal murder dead maybe it’s time to move on… 

 

But pure evil never dies and hidden within the house where Decker's killing spree ended and Julia narrowly escaped with her life lies the Harbinger, a sinister fortune-telling machine that holds all the cards. 

 

When paranormal TV presenter Mike Craggs (Webster) invites Julia on his show to recount her harrowing ordeal with Decker, he makes her a life-changing offer she just cannot refuse, but things are about to take a shocking turn. 

 

In the hope of finally confronting her past, Julia reluctantly joins the presenter, a team of ghost hunters, psychics, occult experts and television production crew, to record the show. But when they descend on the house of horrors, they accidently stumble on the Harbinger, the malevolent machine that that predicts the grisly deaths awaiting each member of the group. 

 

As the body count rises and escape becomes impossible, Julia discovers the horrifying truth, that Decker’s soul has been transferred into the machine… 

 

Trapped in limbo, the killer needs six souls to walk the earth again. Can Julia and the team stop him before the Harbinger claims them all? 

Pre-Order from Amazon UK

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who plays Paranormal TV presenter Mike Craggs in Harbinger ?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 14-09-26

2. No alternative prize is available

3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.

4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

PREVIEW: BABYBACKS (2026 Film) - Starring Viridiana Márquez, Melissa Chambers and Ryan Rathbun

 

Preview by Jon Donnis

BABYBACKS looks set to deliver a bleak and unsettling survival horror experience, taking a desperate journey across the Sonoran Desert and turning it into something far more sinister. Directed by Geno Marx, the film follows two people who believe they have finally found safety, only to discover that their troubles are far from over.

Zoe and Mateo are young lovers attempting to escape ruthless cartel hitmen as they cross the scorching Sonoran Desert in search of a new life in America. Their journey is already pushing them to their limits, but things become even more dangerous when Mateo is badly injured. Exhausted and vulnerable, the pair appear to have little choice but to accept help when an older couple offers them shelter.

That apparent act of kindness soon takes a disturbing turn. Once inside the isolated rural home, Zoe and Mateo begin to realise that their hosts may have motives far removed from simple generosity. The refuge they desperately needed becomes a place of captivity, leaving the couple facing a new and increasingly terrifying fight for survival.

BABYBACKS appears to build much of its tension around that shift in environment. The unforgiving openness of the Sonoran Desert gives way to the claustrophobic confines of the house, creating a very different kind of threat. Instead of simply trying to survive the elements and evade those pursuing them, Zoe and Mateo must now contend with people who have seemingly turned their desperation against them.

The film draws on familiar survival horror territory while placing its story against a backdrop of social tension and vulnerability. Its premise has the potential to make the audience question where the real danger lies, particularly as the people offering protection gradually become a greater threat than the dangers Zoe and Mateo were originally fleeing.

The cast includes Viridiana Márquez, known for Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, Melissa Chambers, who has appeared in Dark Winds and Mayfair Witches, Ryan Rathbun, whose credits include Oppenheimer and Babylon, and Ray Acevedo, known for American Sicario.

With its combination of psychological menace, captivity horror and survival thriller elements, BABYBACKS looks poised to take its protagonists from one nightmare directly into another. The central idea is an unsettling one. Sometimes reaching safety does not mean the danger is over. It can simply mean that the real nightmare is about to begin.

BABYBACKS is represented internationally by Black Mandala.

PRESS RELEASE: The R.I.P. Man 2: Rest In Pain Again

PRESS RELEASE:

Time to REST.IN.PAIN AGAIN!

West Sussex, UK

After obtaining a worldwide release with The R.I.P Man feature film and winning numerous awards, the team are now back with the sequel and hope to bring more gore and continue from where they left off.

Jamie Langlands will be in the directors chair again and Co - Writing with Producer (Rhys Thompson) on this Horror/Slasher instalment.

Introducing a new titular villain in Chaz Porter (played by Craig Standen) the concept will definitely get your tongue wagging.

Set in the seaside town of Tarker's valley, Donnie (played by Maximus Polling) and Clarissa (played by Jasmine Kheen) are attempting to put their troubled past behind them and plan their exciting future together. What could possibly go wrong?

There will also be a new addition to the friendship group. Trudy (played by Georgie Ray) who will bring an edginess and grit to the fearful youngsters aid, also a direct approach into bringing a conclusion to the unwanted dread that surrounds the vicinity.

Much loved characters will be brought back and play a pivotal role in the setting. 

Will Alden Pick (played by Owen Llewelyn) resurface again?

Will there now be double trouble for the local law enforcement to deal with?

You will have to wait to find out.

We now have a kickstarter campaign available for production completion.

If you would like to contribute, please check out the link below and maybe treat yourself. We would love to welcome you to the team.

Thanks from the whole cast and crew.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/z12/the-rip-man-2-rest-in-pain-again

REVIEW: Guerilla Metropolitana's The Benefactress

"A Shockingly Entertaining Film"

Guerilla Metropolitana's The Benefactress is shockingly entertaining. It makes us think, and makes us uncomfortable as it is likely intended to. A work of art that makes us wonder how much can we separate our own believers while allowing others to be completely different from us. It opens up hidden doors of our minds that we wish would remain shut, but secretly want revealed. Shocking, entertaining, and dazzling. 

David Kempf, author of They Laughed at Me and Dystopia 

More info at https://www.bloodpactfilms.com/the-benefactress