Horror Movie News Report
The Otherkind, a supernatural thriller from writer-director Mary C. Russell, became available to stream on digital platforms on September 1, 2026. The 73-minute feature marks Russell’s directing debut and was acquired by Studio Dome.
According to Horror Society, the film is set in a quiet lakeside town where a worn-down police officer investigates the circumstances surrounding a mysterious car crash. At the same time, a young woman confronts her sexuality after experiencing something inexplicable at the lake. As the two storylines converge, the town is affected by an otherworldly presence beneath the water.
The film draws inspiration from Irish selkie folklore, combining that mythology with an ecological angle. Its approach emphasizes parasitic horror and psychological dread rather than gore. Russell has cited The Thing and Night Tide as influences and said the story explores how one source of information—in this case, the water—can affect and transform multiple people.
Production took place on location in Crestline, in California’s San Bernardino Mountains, with several scenes filmed at Lake Gregory. Producer Caroline O’Meara, who also helped bring the story from the page to the screen, makes her producing debut on the project and appears in the film.
The cast includes Rebekah Kennedy, Lestonja Diaz, Marc Anthony Samuel, and Paris Dylan. Muneeb Rehman, Luciana Faulhaber, and Shylo Molina are also featured, alongside Jeff Pride, Madonna Young-Magee, Laura Dromerick, Andrew Hansen, and O’Meara. Chris Douridas provides the voice of the film’s newsreader.
The Otherkind received festival recognition before its digital release, including Best Horror/Thriller at Chicago Film Frenzy, the Blood, Sweat & Fears Award at Sin City Horror Fest, and Best Indie Film at LA International Art Film Fest. Gary LaBranche and Karen LaBranche of LaBranche Productions served as executive producers.
