Get ready to dive into the deep end of a mystery that feels almost too real. Markian Tarasiuk is stepping behind the camera for his directorial debut. Hunting Matthew Nichols is basically a love letter to the classic “found footage” subgenre.
A 25-Year Cold Case
The story takes a gritty, pseudo-documentary approach to a disappearance that has haunted a small town for years. Back in 2001, a teenager named Matthew Nichols and his friend vanished while filming their own Blair Witch-style investigation into a local cult legend (the mythical 19th-century trapper Roy Mackenzie).
Fast forward to the present day: Matthew’s sister, Tara (Miranda MacDougall), uncovers a disturbing piece of evidence hidden in her brother’s old VHS tapes. Obsessed with finding the truth, she teams up with documentary filmmaker Markian Tarasiuk (playing himself) to retrace Matthew’s final steps into the dark, unforgiving forests of Vancouver Island.
Why It’s Buzzing
Reviews suggest the film is so convincing that you might actually wonder if you’re watching a true-crime doc. However, the film has been described as a “slow-burn horror.” It explores the psychological costs of obsession and how grief can pull a family apart.
The Team
Alongside Tarasiuk and MacDougall, the cast includes Ryan Alexander McDonald, Christine Willes, and Jay Hindle. Hunting Matthew Nichols is directed and produced by Tarasiuk, who co-wrote the script with Sean Harris Oliver.
Watch the mystery unfold when Hunting Matthew Nichols is released on March 27, 2026.
