If you've ever wondered what would happen if a musical met a body-horror romance, Stuffed is here to answer that question. The film, which is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), blends macabre humor, gothic atmosphere, and toe-tapping tunes into a story about love, death, and the art of preservation.
Directed by Theo Rhys and co-written by Rhys and Joss Holden-Rea, Stuffed stars Jodie Comer (known for her role in Killing Eve) and Harry Melling (who played Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films). The duo plays Araminta and Bernie, two lonely souls who find an unexpected connection in the most unusual of circumstances.
In an exclusive clip shared with ShowtimeSpot, we see Araminta attempting to seduce Bernie while standing beside an open casket. She sings about the fleeting nature of memory and the fallacy of eulogies, her voice dripping with both charm and menace. It's a scene that perfectly captures the film's unique tone—equal parts intimate and unsettling.
Holden-Rea spoke about the scene, praising Comer and Melling for bringing a sense of warmth to the dark material. "The film is so chock-full of all these huge emotions and really heavy ideas of death and legacy, but this scene is such a great example of the subtle intimacy and humour that Jodie and Harry bring to everything," he said. "She sings here about the fallacy of eulogies, and the impermanence of memory, which could feel like a real drag but there's so much between the lines in Jodie's performance."
The official synopsis for Stuffed reads: "Against a heightened, macabre backdrop, this bold musical follows Araminta, a taxidermist determined to stuff a human, and Bernie, a lonely soul desperate to leave a legacy, who volunteers to be her specimen. But as they set their plan in motion, an unexpected romance threatens to upend their deadly arrangement."
For fans of darker musicals like Repo! The Genetic Opera or Sweeney Todd, Stuffed promises to deliver a similarly twisted yet emotionally resonant experience. Director Theo Rhys explained how the clip sets the tone for the entire film: "This scene is a real tone-setter for the film. I really love the combination of the rich, atmospheric lighting with the classical gothic setting—it really draws you into the peculiarity of their world. It also captures the core tonal balance of the film, which is finding intimacy within this plan for death."
Rhys added, "Throughout the film, Bernie and Araminta's most intimate moments happen in the context of their plan for taxidermy, and in this scene we find this fascinating and awkward intimacy between them over the corpse. Ultimately, it's death that brings them together."
If you're intrigued by this bizarre yet compelling premise, you're not alone. Stuffed is generating buzz as one of the most unique entries at this year's TIFF. And for those who enjoy a good dose of the weird and wonderful, this film seems poised to deliver.
While you wait for Stuffed to hit theaters, you might want to check out other genre-bending projects. For instance, this exclusive look at a VHS horror offers a different kind of chills. Or, if you're in the mood for something more supernatural, this preview of a ghostly punk mystery might be right up your alley.
For those who can't get enough of Harry Melling, you might also be interested in Ralph Fiennes' recent comments about his time as Voldemort, or the latest casting news for the Harry Potter series.
Stuffed is set to premiere at TIFF, and we can't wait to see what this twisted musical has in store. Check out the exclusive clip above to get a taste of the film's unique charm.
