If you think waking up after a five-minute power nap is disorienting, try five years. Beyond Casual Media has officially partnered with Premiere Digital to bring their award-winning psychological horror-thriller, The Observance, to just about every screen you own.
Whether you prefer to pay per view (TVOD), subscribe (SVOD), or sit through ads for laundry detergent (AVOD), this cult-centric nightmare is headed your way following its successful run in AMC Theatres.
Home, Bitter Home
The film follows a woman who wakes up from a five-year coma after a car accident, only to realize she probably should have hit the snooze button. In her absence, an “enigmatic” religious leader has moved into her house, brainwashed her husband, and turned her daughter into a devotee.
Oh, and the entire town is in on it, too. It’s a classic story of girl-meets-cult, girl-loses-family, girl-tries-not-to-get-sacrificed.
The “Raimi” Factor
One draw for genre fans is the presence of Ted Raimi. Whether you know him as Hoffman from the Spider-Man trilogy or the unsettling Sheriff Travis Hackett from The Quarry, Raimi brings that perfect “something isn’t right here” energy to the screen. He’s joined by Beyond Casual regulars Kate Dailey and Alec James.
A Shelf-Full of Silverware
The Observance went on a world tour. And it picked up more hardware than a local Home Depot. Some highlights from the trophy cabinet include:
-The Best Horror/Thriller & Best Actor/Actress – Berlin Indie Film Festival
-Best Thriller & Best Director – Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards
-Best Feature/Suspense Thriller – International Horror Hotel Film Festival
-Best Independent Feature – Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards
-Oh, and it received an Excellence Award – Delaware’s Sci-Fi Horror and Action Film Festival
The Brains Behind the Brainwashing
Beyond Casual Media isn’t just a group of lucky amateurs. Co-founders Rob Hollocks, the director and co-writer, and Amy Bailey have some serious pedigree. Hollocks spent years at Paramount working on “indie” projects like Saving Private Ryan, Indiana Jones, and Star Trek.
This is the team that brought you the Saturn Award-winning Encounter and the critically praised slasher Mister Sleep. The Observance is a “nerve-shredding ride” that makes you very suspicious of anyone in town wearing matching robes.
A Deeper Dive
If you really want to peek behind the curtains of this chilling film, be sure to watch our interview with director Rob Hollocks and our exclusive LIVE with the entire cast!
When we asked about the film’s impact and its upcoming home release, Hollock had this to say:
The Observance was always designed to feel like a warning as well as entertainment. We wanted to make a horror film that gets under your skin, not just because of what you see on the screen, but because of what it says about belief, manipulation, loneliness, and the frightening ease with which people surrender themselves to power.
What’s been incredibly rewarding is seeing audiences respond so passionately across festivals and during theatrical releases. Horror fans are smart. They want something that lingers in the dark with them afterward. That’s exactly the kind of film we set out to make.
Independent horror is still one of the last places filmmakers can take real creative risks, and we’re proud that The Observance never pulled its punches. We’re excited for the film’s next chapter as it arrives on major digital and streaming platforms and reaches an even wider audience.
How to Watch
The Observance is coming soon to all major streaming platforms. If you’re a collector who likes holding your horror in your hands, keep an eye out for the DVD and Collector’s Edition Blu-ray releasing later this year.
