Horror fans, get ready for a new kind of nightmare—one that's literally pulled from the dusty shelves of a VHS collection. Play House, a chilling new analog horror film, is set to make its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2026, and we've got your exclusive first look at the film's eerie new image.
Directed and co-written by Nicolas Curcio, who recently lent his writing talents to the animated sports comedy GOAT, Play House taps into the unsettling allure of found footage and retro media. The film follows a young man who, while renovating a dilapidated house to win back his ex, stumbles upon a stash of VHS tapes in the basement. These tapes contain episodes of an unaired TV show—and as he digs deeper into the show's dark history, it begins to seep into his own life, threatening his last chance at reconciliation.
The project is the inaugural winner of Fantastic Pitches, a micro-budget genre initiative from Fantastic Fest and Chroma, designed to champion low-budget, high-concept horror. It's a fitting pedigree, especially given the recent success of micro-budget horror like Obsession, which turned a sub-$1 million budget into a global phenomenon. Play House seems poised to follow in those footsteps, proving once again that creativity and a good scare can go a long way.
Leading the cast is Will Harrison, who earned a Tony nomination for his breakout role in Prime Video's Daisy Jones & The Six. He's joined by Jessica Sula (Split), Jordan Gonzalez (The Long Walk), and James Urbaniak (Oppenheimer). The film is executive produced by Divide/Conquer, the genre powerhouse behind the M3GAN films, so you know they have a knack for delivering crowd-pleasing terror.
Fantastic Fest 2026 runs from September 17–24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas. The festival has become a hotspot for horror premieres, and this year's lineup is already shaping up to be a killer one. If you're a fan of micro-budget horror films, this is one to keep on your radar.
While you wait for Play House to hit the big screen, why not test your survival skills against some of horror's most iconic villains? Or if you're in the mood for more scares, check out our list of horror movie video games to get your fix.
Stay tuned for more exclusive sneak peeks from Fantastic Fest, and be sure to check the official festival guide for the full lineup. Play House is one you won't want to miss.
