Dead Drop
Official synopsis
A group of strangers board a freight elevator and find themselves trapped in an ever-worsening life-and-death predicament that ultimately reveals they are all linked together in a sinister, supernatural, or even biblical nightmare.
Review
Viewers will have a blast being as much in the dark about the mysterious proceedings in Dead Drop as the characters are, although the latter are in for some gruesome fates while we watch writer/director Ned Crowley’s super feature unfold. Boasting a wonderfully talented ensemble cast portraying nameless characters — the credits list the characters by their personalities or types — a riveting mystery thriller infused with dark humor, and solid work at the helm, this tale of eight strangers trapped in a service elevator after tiring of waiting for the regular elevators to arrive serves up plenty of intrigue and sudden kills. Although the characters meant to be annoying, suspicious, or both outnumber the ones to root for, they all add to the mesmerizing puzzle that Crowley crafts.
When You See It
Official synopsis
While filming the pilot episode of a new indie reality ghost hunting show two ghost hunters question if the paranormal activity they are experiencing is real or an elaborate hoax put on by their fame seeking host.
Review
Writer/director John Abbott’s When You See It fuses mockumentary and found footage elements, and the result is a gripping supernatural feature. Cassie (Danica Lee Clauser) and Jake (Ryan Boloix) work together on developing a ghost-hunting show. Cassie is heavily into it while skeptical Jake mostly just wants to be around her and help her out with her dream of landing a series. A stranger named Tyler (Evan Ellicott) contacts Cassie, insisting that his house is haunted. That it may be, but Tyler’s strange behavior sends up red flags with Jake, who suspects that Tyler may be more dangerous to them than any spirit. The three leads all give terrific performances, and Abbott paces the suspense and mystery impressively. Viewers who normally are on the fence about found footage scare-fare should definitely give When You See It a try. I’m definitely picky and choosy about the subgenre, and I found plenty here to enjoy and recommend.
Dead Drop and When You See It screened as part of Nightmares Film Festival, which ran October 15–18, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
