If you’ve been looking for a wholesome family drama to watch with your parents this summer, keep moving. Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment are teaming up to drop the bizarre new creature feature The Leaching on Digital and On Demand this July, and it’s about to make your own family dynamics look like a sitcom.
Written and directed by indie genre veteran Evan Showalter (Ante Mortem, Bad Music Terry), the film promises a dark, gooey cocktail of supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and good old-fashioned creature-feature thrills.
A Very Uncomfortable Family Reunion
The synopsis alone reads like a masterclass in waking up with the worst hangover of your life. After crawling out of a literal grave on her father’s isolated forest property with zero memory of who she is or how she got there, Vivian must use what few brain cells she has left to piece together the nightmarish truth. Her only company? A horde of the undead, her incredibly sketchy “father,” and—because why not—a giant, blood-sucking leech monster. Over the course of a few grueling days, she’ll uncover a genuinely nefarious supernatural scheme. The real question is: will she figure it out before she’s entirely drained?
Parasites, Parents, and Paranoia
Showalter isn’t just delivering mindless monster mayhem, though; he’s aiming for the psychological jugular.
The Leaching is an exploration of faith, the loss of self, and the monsters (literally) that emerge when people surrender themselves to something greater than they can understand,” says Showalter.
It’s an isolating, deeply paranoid ride that forces audiences to answer one incredibly uncomfortable question: Can you actually trust your family?
If you like your psychological thrillers served with a side of giant, slimy annelids and existential dread, clear your schedule. Rent or buy The Leaching starting July 7—maybe skip the movie snacks for this one.
