A new supernatural horror film is headed our way, and today we’ve got an exclusive first look with a batch of stills from Five Must Die.
The upcoming occult thriller comes from director and co-writer Ryan Kelly, who promises a contained supernatural nightmare packed with mystery, psychological horror, and dark humor.
In Five Must Die, six strangers awaken imprisoned inside a sprawling mansion with no memory of how they got there, only to learn they have been chosen by the vengeful spirit of a young woman driven to suicide by their actions. Their only hope comes from an agent of the Federal Bureau of Paranormal Containment, who delivers an unthinkable ultimatum on what must happen to stop the entity’s wrath.
“I’ve always loved films that are contained to a single location, and I’m a big fan of ensemble casts,” says Ryan Kelly. “This project brings those elements together and filters them through horror, comedy, and a bit of an Agatha Christie-style mystery. That combination, tight, character-driven, but still fun, unpredictable, and surprising, is exactly the kind of movie I love to watch.”
Kelly continues, “I wanted to create something in the spirit of the films I grew up with, high-concept stories with strong characters, big audience moments, and real emotion beneath the spectacle. That’s the feeling I’m chasing with Five Must Die, and if we can capture even a piece of it, I’ll be thrilled.”
Helping to bring his vision to life is veteran Broadway and film producer Michael Alden (Kissing Jessica Stein, Unzipped, The Zookeeper, Batboy: The Musical, Grey Gardens, The King’s Speech).
“I’ve always been drawn to stories centered around the unknown and the unexplainable,” says Alden. “There’s something deeply compelling about narratives in which unseen forces and unanswered mysteries create real danger, where what we don’t understand has the power to destroy us. I’m especially fascinated by the human element within those stories: who is intelligent enough, quick enough, or patient enough to survive, uncover the truth, and find a way out before it’s too late.”
“I was drawn to the project for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s an exceptionally strong script, and the characters, including my role as Margaret, are very well developed,” says star Beth Broderick, making her horror film debut. “Margaret is a retired FBI special ops agent. She’s tough, experienced, and sincere. I’ve always wanted the opportunity to play that kind of ‘old cop’ role in film and television, so it was a really fun character to tackle.”
“Human nature drives us to explore and explain the unknown,” says co-star and executive producer Jared P-Smith, “but things like possessions, hauntings, ghosts, and aliens still resist clear answers. That mystery is what keeps people captivated. We understand something like gravity, so it no longer amazes us in the same way, but the paranormal remains unexplained, and that makes it endlessly compelling.”
Co-written by David Landau, the film stars Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) alongside Jared P-Smith (The Equalizer) and an ensemble cast, in a film that blends psychological terror, supernatural horror, and dark humor into a nightmare where survival comes at a horrifying price.
The film also stars Sarah Baskin (Gossip Girl: Next Gen), Vandit Bhatt (New Amsterdam, Quantico), Gabrielle DuBrul, Briana Femia, Chris Maher, Carmen Salta, Taylor Selé (Godfather of Harlem, Survival of the Thickest), and Andrew Ximenes.
Alden produces alongside Steve Barton (Terrifier 2, George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead, E! True Hollywood Story), Kelly Hall, Ryan Kelly, Michael Kuciak (Death Metal, From the Shadows, Killer Party), Christopher Massimine, and Ryan Savini. Paul Filanowski, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Ryan Koppelman, Jared P-Smith, Jane Petrov, Bev Ragovoy, Cheri Reeve, Kat Schon, Penny Stephenson, Barry Wolfe, Laurrelle Wolfe, and Andrew Ximenes executive produce.
Academy Award winner Cecelia Hall (The Hunt for Red October, Top Gun) serves as the film’s Creative Consultant.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Six strangers awaken trapped inside a sprawling mansion. None of them know each other, and none understand why they are there, until an agent from the Federal Bureau of Paranormal Containment informs them that a violent spirit has marked them as its targets.
“As paranoia, fear, and supernatural attacks tear the group apart, the mansion becomes a crucible where hidden pasts are revealed, and moral choices turn deadly. The line between possession, free will, and vengeance begins to blur, and only those willing to confront their guilt may have a chance to survive.”
Be sure to check out our exclusive gallery of first look stills below, and stay tuned to Dread Central for more on the supernatural thriller as it heads toward release.
Categorized:Exclusive Images Movies
