De Havilland Pictures has pulled back the veil on the first official images from Mary Shelley’s Christmas Nightmares. This highly anticipated Gothic horror film marks the feature debut of filmmaker Johnathon de Havilland.
Now deep in post-production and targeting a chilling Holiday 2026 release, the project aims to resurrect the shadow-drenched atmosphere of classic ’40s fright films.
The film’s appeal lies in its commitment to practical, atmospheric filmmaking. Mary Shelley’s Christmas Nightmares was shot primarily on the grounds of an authentic 19th-century manor near Louisville, Kentucky. It uses natural candlelight as its primary light source. The early images showcase period costuming and candlelit interiors that transport the viewer back to the golden age of studio horror.
Literary Giants and a Macabre Game
Set entirely on a snow-swept Christmas Eve, the story plunges iconic literary figures into a real-life nightmare. Tiffany Webb anchors the film as Mary Shelley, who gathers inside the manor with fellow guests—Claire (Erica Dyer), Lord Byron (Timothy Pogue), and Percy—to compete in a macabre holiday game: who can craft the most terrifying ghost story before midnight?
As the blizzard intensifies outside, the tales they share from the works of literary greats like Edgar Allan Poe. However, they become increasingly frightening. Soon, the line between fiction and reality blurs. And the nightmares they invent begin to manifest within the confines of the manor.
Director De Havilland describes the film as a heartfelt love letter to the masters of Gothic storytelling:
“We wanted to honor the writers who shaped the genre… Pairing their influence with the cinematic style of old Hollywood felt like the perfect marriage. These first-look images capture the classic dread we set out to recreate.”
The cast includes Erica Dyer (The Zuri Johnson Story), who portrays Claire, a medium whose calm presence becomes increasingly unsettling, and Timothy Pogue (Unnatural), who embodies Lord Byron.
With its handcrafted atmosphere, commitment to old-school techniques, and brilliant literary foundation, Mary Shelley’s Christmas Nightmares is positioning itself as one of the most stylistically distinctive indie horror releases on the horizon. De Havilland Pictures plans to unveil additional images, behind-the-scenes footage, and its first teaser trailer throughout 2026.
