Category: Horror

FANTASTIC FEST 2026

LITTERMATES (Drafthouse Exclusives)
Feature Film (USA)
(2026, 88 mins)
(Absurdist Horror)

Written And Directed by: Scott Tinkham and Michael Woloson
Executive Producer: Haley Nicole Johnson, Joey Bader, Al Baker, Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine
Producers: Oliver Woolf, Michael Woloson, Scott Tinkham, Kaylee McGregor.
Starring: Joey Bader, Oliver Woolf and Kaylee McGregor.

FANTASTIC FEST 2026 OFFICIAL SCREENING

Sunday, September 20
2:00PM
Location: Alamo Drafthouse Lamar (Theater 9)
Address: 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Press Screening:
Monday, September 21 at 8:00AM CT
Location: Alamo Drafthouse Lamar (Theater 9)
Address: 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Set against the backdrop of a mysterious war, LITTERMATES follows two disoriented survivors who take refuge at an isolated cottage in the English countryside. After Liam (Joey Bader) and Mel (Kaylee McGregor)  arrive bloodied, speechless, and unable to fully understand what has happened to them, they are taken in by Chester (Oliver Woolf), an enigmatic caretaker who bathes, feeds, and teaches them how to speak again.

As sirens, smoke, and distant threats press closer, Liam and Mel go about their days relearning the simplest tasks inside Chester’s carefully controlled world, while earning “nifties” for good behavior that can be traded for small comforts like karaoke, hot tub time, dance parties, and favorite meals. However, unlike Liam, Mel is far less willing to accept the boundaries of the cottage, growing increasingly drawn to the woods, the locked gate, and the larger world Chester insists is too dangerous to enter.

When Mel's curiosity pushes past Chester’s rules, the fragile order of the cottage is tested; exposing the fear, loyalty, and unanswered questions holding their makeshift family together.

Scott Tinkham is a writer and director from Minnesota. His work lives at the intersection of dark comedy and emotional sincerity, often exploring characters who are spiraling and searching for meaning in the strangest of places. His short film 24 Hours After Reading Tuesdays with Morrie had its world premiere at SXSW in 2025. He recently wrapped production on his latest film, "Two Schizos Take a Walk," and is in development on his next feature, "Good Life," both under Haley Nicole Johnson’s Under The Shell banner.

Michael Woloson  is a writer, director, cinematographer, and producer from Las Vegas, based in Los Angeles. His work combines precise visual storytelling with intimate, character-driven narratives, often exploring the complexity of memory and time. A SXSW alum, he served as cinematographer and producer on Scott Tinkham’s "24 Hours After Reading Tuesdays with Morrie," which premiered at SXSW in 2025. His latest directorial work, "Broken Branches," was produced under Haley Nicole Johnson’s Under The Shell banner, and is set to begin its festival run in 2027. He will serve as a producer on Tinkham’s upcoming feature "Good Life," also under Under The Shell.