Horror Film Play House Premieres at Fantastic Fest
The new film features an unsettling atmosphere driven by puppets and a character-focused narrative.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Horror
Moviegoers in Austin got a first look at the horror film Play House as it debuted at the annual Fantastic Fest. Directed by Nicolas Curcio, the film centers on a tense story driven by the relationship between two main characters.
Why it matters
The festival, a staple of the citys cultural calendar, continues to bring genre-bending filmmakers to local screens. This premiere highlights the creative work of writers Nicolas Curcio and Kirby Goldstein as they test their latest project with a live Austin audience.
The premiere of Play House marks the latest debut at Fantastic Fest, an event that draws genre fans to the city for independent screenings. Specific details regarding theatrical distribution or potential sequels remain unknown.
The players
Nicolas Curcio
He is the director and co-writer of the horror film Play House.
Will Harrison
He is an actor who plays the lead character Elliot in the film.
Jordan Gonzalez
He is an actor who plays the character Alden in the film.
Kirby Goldstein
He is the co-writer of the film Play House.
The details
Play House stars Will Harrison as Elliot and Jordan Gonzalez as Alden, anchoring the film in a narrative focused on their emotional dynamic. To build an unsettling atmosphere, director Nicolas Curcio and co-writer Kirby Goldstein integrated puppet-centric elements throughout the production. The film represents a recent creative effort aimed at expanding horror storytelling through character-led tension.
Timeline
The horror film Play House premiered at Fantastic Fest on October 26, 2026.
The Texas Context
Fantastic Fest remains the city's primary venue for launching experimental genre films. The debut of Play House follows the festival's established history of introducing independent horror features to local audiences.
Local horror enthusiasts who missed the premiere can watch for updates regarding a wider theatrical release later this year. Keep an eye on festival listings for potential encore screenings across the area.
The takeaway
Horror fans should keep an eye on upcoming wide-release schedules to see when the film arrives in cinemas. Follow official festival announcements for news on potential future screenings or home release dates for this new title.
Further reading
You can find more coverage of the city's genre film scene in our Horror section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KXAN.
