Horror is having a moment with online creators, and the latest to make the leap is Alex Goyette, the mind behind the JouleThief YouTube channel. His sophomore feature, Breeder, is hitting theaters this week, and it's already generating buzz with a 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. At the center of this unsettling tale is Dot-Marie Jones, best known for her Emmy-nominated role as Coach Beiste on Glee, delivering a performance that's being hailed as a career standout.
The film follows Russell (Daniel Doheny), a broke college student desperate for research funding. He lands a job with Patti (Jones), an eccentric and highly regarded poodle breeder, at her remote ranch. But the "project" she needs help with has nothing to do with dogs—she's moved on to breeding humans, and Russell must serve as her stud or face deadly consequences.
In our exclusive sneak peek, we get a glimpse of Patti's manipulative methods. She's leading a group therapy session with her adoptive "daughters," all confined in a room that feels more like a stable. The focus is on Yara (Lillian Doucet-Roche), who was abandoned by her mother. Patti relentlessly pushes Yara to voice what she always wanted to say to her mom, each repetition growing more forceful. The pressure builds until Yara breaks down, screaming, "Why did you leave me?" before collapsing into tears.
But Patti's reaction is chillingly calm. She comforts Yara, assuring her that crying is cleansing and good. Yet the way the women are kept, and the calculated tenderness, suggests this kindness is just another tool in her twisted breeding project. It's a masterclass in emotional manipulation, showing both the warm and cold sides of the villain.
Jones's performance is earning rave reviews for her ability to shift from maternal warmth to icy calculation in an instant. Critics have singled her out as the film's standout, and it's easy to see why. She brings a physicality and intensity that makes Patti both terrifying and oddly compelling.
Breeder also stars Maddie Phillips, Tanaya Beatty, and Paige McGarvin, rounding out a cast that brings this darkly humorous horror to life. The film premiered at Tribeca and has been praised for its unique blend of horror and comedy, a tone that Goyette has honed through his YouTube work.
For fans of psychological thrillers, Breeder fits right in with the best of the genre. If you're looking for more unsettling viewing, check out our list of the top psychological thrillers of the 2020s. And if you're in the mood for a classic scare, our roundup of flawless 90s horror masterpieces is a must-read.
Breeder arrives in theaters on October 28 and will stream on Shudder after its limited run. Don't miss Jones's chilling turn—check out the exclusive clip above.
