ITN is set to unleash the independent fantasy-horror film The Ritual House. Directed by Crystal J. Huang and set for a digital release this month, this film promises to be more than just a horror movie—it reportedly was plagued by genuine supernatural activity.
The Ritual House deliberately blurs the line between film and reality. The commitment to authenticity seemed to summon something far darker. Both cast and crew began to experience chilling, unexplained events that far exceeded the boundaries of the screenplay.
“The Conjuring has nothing on this house,” one rattled cast member reportedly remarked after a series of bizarre and frightening occurrences took hold of the set. The supernatural activity began almost immediately, seemingly triggered by the act of filming itself.
Social media star and actress Lauren Francesca (who plays Courtney Cable) recounted a truly terrifying incident where, while in the backyard, she felt a powerful, invisible force slam into her. The unexpected shove sent her tumbling backward into the pool, an incident that left her physically shaken and deeply unnerved. Throughout the production, the lights would flicker and flash spontaneously, despite the lighting department’s efforts to keep them stable.
The homeowner discovered the basement light burning late one night, even though no one had been in the basement. This was followed by strange, distant noises echoing from the shadows—a haunting soundtrack no director could have staged.
Even neutral third parties were affected. Also, a housekeeper, hired to stay and care for pets during the shoot, ultimately refused to remain in the house overnight. She claimed to have repeatedly witnessed shifting shadows and felt a palpable, menacing “presence” moving through the halls. A close friend of Director Crystal J. Huang, visiting the house to assist with catering, developed sudden, severe welts and scratches on his legs while quietly working in the bar area. The mysterious marks resulted in permanent scars, and the friend has since vowed never to return to the location.
The set props appeared to actually be cursed or haunted. A heavy clock unexpectedly toppled and shattered mid-scene. Chillingly, an antique music box prominently used in the film reportedly switches itself on and off at random intervals. This left the entire crew questioning the integrity of the environment.
To heighten the film’s authenticity, the production team installed a satanic mural in the basement and dressed the set with genuine occult paraphernalia, including real crystals and tarot cards. The unexplained experiences that followed left the crew with the inescapable thought: had they accidentally awakened something ancient and sinister?
The Ritual House tells the story of two friends who inherit a home and decide to convert it into a short-term rental. They inadvertently awaken a powerful and ancient entity, turning their profitable venture into a supernatural nightmare.
The film, directed by Crystal J. Huang and written by Donna Spangler, stars Spangler, Huang, social media influencer Lauren Francesca, Keiara Scranton, Neil Bentley Fierro, Bron Theron, Anna Yosin, Brandon Lill, Arthur Peng, Curt Clendenin, and David L. Klein.
Xue Zhang serves as Executive Producer. Associate Producers include Neil Bentley Fierro, Mark Flemmich, Sophia Jiang, and Chris Shane Sanders.
The Ritual House will hold its World Premiere on October 24th at The Chabot Theatre in the Bay Area. The film will be released on Tubi the same day. A broad release on additional digital and VOD platforms—including Roku and Fandango at Home—to follow later in October.
