If you think your neighborhood Homeowners Association is a nightmare because they sent you a passive-aggressive letter about your lawn height, count your blessings. It could always be significantly worse. Sunrise Films has officially announced that William Bagley’s critically adored horror-comedy, Hold the Fort, is locked, loaded, and coming home for its digital debut on June 23.
After tearing through the global genre festival circuit with raucous stops at Fantasia, FrightFest London, Sitges, Beyond Fest, and Toronto After Dark, this practical-effects extravaganza is finally ready to ruin your property value completely.
Suburban Bliss Meets Eternal Damnation
The narrative takes the crushing, highly relatable anxiety of modern real estate and drops it directly into a blender with a heavy-metal apocalypse. Lucas (Chris Mayers, Ozark) and Jenny (Haley Leary) think they’ve finally made it. They signed the papers, handed over their life savings, and officially became first-time homeowners. However, their gorgeous new suburban house comes with a rather massive, unlisted disclosure.
Every Equinox, a literal Hell Hole opens up in the middle of the neighborhood, unleashing an otherworldly horde of monsters. As it turns out, the local HOA doubles as a heavily armed supernatural defense force. Before they can even finish unpacking their moving boxes, the newly arrived couple finds themselves trapped in a bloody, three-way battle for survival, pitting them against violently strict neighborhood guidelines, witches, werewolves, and kung-fu zombies.
A Certified Fresh Splatter-Fest With Real Heart
Brevity is the soul of wit, and Bagley understands that completely. Clocking in at a lean, mean, and relentless 74 minutes, Hold the Fort currently sits at a flawless 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers are already hailing it as an instant midnight-movie classic, praising its dizzying parade of head explosions, monster mayhem, and laugh-out-loud gags that perfectly weaponize the struggles of homeownership against inflation.
To pull off a high-octane thrill ride featuring a nonstop onslaught of practically created creatures, Bagley (The Murder Podcast) assembled a brilliant comedic cast. Anchoring the suburban slaughter alongside Mayers and Leary is legendary internet comedian Julian Smith, who steals the show as the neighborhood’s overly polite, Ned Flanders-esque HOA leader, Jerry.
“My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart,” director William Bagley shared. “Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.”
You can rent or own Hold the Fort on Digital HD starting June 23 across all major platforms, including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home. Just remember to read every single page of your lease before you move in.
