I get a ton of emails about exciting upcoming horror projects and, while I’m unable to showcase them all individually, I’m absolutely thrilled to share them ROUND-UP STYLE! So, without further ado, here are the new & upcoming horror creations from the HorrorFam.com inbox!
None of the creators below have paid to be featured here — because we believe that lacking a marketing budget shouldn’t equate to a lack of eyes on your project. That said, I haven’t I had the chance to experience every creation personally. I do my best to make sure each entry is horror-related and take it in good faith that each creator has represented themselves and their projects honestly.
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June 2026 Feature Length Indie Horror Films
The Sticks
Peter Kominek, director and co-writer of The Sticks, was VERY excited to share that his film is officially available to stream on Tubi! He said, “From the initial conception of the film our goal was getting this movie onto Tubi. The film was released on Prime video in early November but we all know Tubi is GOATed for indie horror, so seeing it actually on there is a massive win for us.”
The Sticks is a slow burn survival horror thriller in which a married couple end up in a horrific car crash and the wife, Beth, finds herself stranded. She’s completely alone, her survival skills are minimal at best, and she’s lost in a forest that’s brimming with weird (and deadly!) supernatural threats.
“We shot the whole thing guerrilla style over two years on weekends and days off from work for a budget of under $5000 CAD (we’re from Canada),” said Peter Kominek, adding, “The majority of the filming was done with only two people, myself and the lead actor Shelby Cox-Dersch who also wrote the film with me, with a $10 camera lens I found at a Goodwill that I took apart and modified. We did everything ourselves from costumes to props, practical makeup effects, we even built a cave set in my basement. We got our friend Carlin Grenwich to compose the music, he recorded the score by drumming on fallen logs and an old fridge we found in the woods.”
So, check out The Sticks on Tubi! Or any of the other streaming platforms its on. The creator is very tickled about getting views on his favorite platform, but he’s MOST excited to just have you watch it at all. It was a LOT of work that he and his team spent YEARS of their time on. He said, “Seeing this go from a self-funded experiment to an official Tubi release is incredibly rewarding, and I am just really excited to finally get it out there!”
Where to watch The Sticks:
New Fears Eve
If you heard about New Fears Eve in 2025 and couldn’t wait to watch it – your wait is over. New Fears Eve has finally hit streaming platforms!
Writer/Director/Producer PJ Starks said, “New Fears Eve is a slasher-comedy released through Cineverse, home of Terrifier, and features horror favorites Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp) and Dave Sheridan (Scary Movie), who are both also appearing in the forthcoming Scary Movie 6. We’ve also got Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick involved, making it a fun mix of horror talent. Between the inappropriate comedy and extreme kills the film is a ton of fun!“
Where to watch New Fears Eve:
Distort 2: Dead Among the Trees
Independent Irish production company Weird Pretty Pictures wrote to me on behalf of indie horror director Richard Waters to let us all know that Distort 2: Dead Among the Trees is now available to stream!
They revealed some spoilers about Distort in their message (so you may want to watch that film first before reading this, if you haven’t yet), but here’s what they said: “Distort 2: The Dead Among The Trees follows on from 2025’s Distort, which centered on a musician recording an album in the woods who discovers mysterious cassette tapes left for him. The recordings reveal the harrowing account of a woman researching an urban legend whilst being terrorized by a sinister man as well as his vicious dog. Before long, these sinister occurrences begin to happen to him as well… The previous film concluded with the shocking revelation that although she went missing 30 years prior, the woman was directly communicating with the musician in the present through her recordings.
In the sequel, director Richard Waters reprises his role as the musician, determined to help the woman escape her supernatural entrapment, this time documented by a film crew set out to reveal just how much of the previous film was real or in his mind.”
Where to watch Distort 2: Dead Among the Trees:
ITCH!
Written, directed, and starring Bari Kang, ITCH! is now available to watch via streaming. I haven’t watched the film yet, but it took me a few tries to make it through the trailer because it kept making ME feel itchy and I didn’t want to activate my skin picking tic. Haha. So, kudos to ITCH! for living up to its title in what I did see of it.
Here’s what they had to say about their film: “In this gripping tale of survival, a horrific outbreak known as the ITCH! spreads like wildfire, turning its victims into frenzied, self-destructive shells of their former selves. Jay, a widower grappling with grief and desperation, seeks refuge in a seemingly safe department store alongside his estranged young daughter, Olivia. However, the sanctuary they believed would protect them becomes a nightmarish trap, revealing that the true danger lurks among them. With the infection closing in and paranoia escalating within the group, Jay and Olivia are forced into a harrowing battle-not just against the outbreak outside, but against the darkness within human hearts when faced with survival. With every decision bearing the weight of life and death, they must confront their fractured bond and make brutal choices to stay alive, leading to an unimaginable climax that will leave you questioning what it truly means to protect those we love.”
Where to watch Itch!:
Souls Chapel
Starring and directed by Jake C. Young (Clint Eastwood’s cousin), Souls Chapel also stars Brian Bremer (who you may recognize from Pumpkinhead or Society) and is a unique mix of occult horror and spaghetti western films.
Here’s what their representation had to say in their email to me: “Inspired by the real-life legend of an early 1900s reverend who practiced the occult, Souls Chapel follows a drifter, who, while chasing rumors of gold, takes shelter from a brutal snowstorm inside a small church known as the Souls Chapel. As the night deepens, he learns the church, its clergy, and the land itself are bound to something dark and deadly.”
Souls Chapel just became available on DVD and VOD and will likely be streaming soon!
It Needs Eyes
Aaron Pagniano wrote to let us all know that after It Needs Eyes had an amazing festival run in 2025, they are now taking their film on a Nationwide theater tour!
Written and directed by Aaron Pagniano and Zack Ogle, It Needs Eyes is a “Psychological Thriller / Queer Coming of Age / Techno Horror” film and stars Raquel Lebish, Isadora Leiva, and Lydia Fiore.
Zack Ogle (he/him) & Aaron Pagniano (they/them) are an award-winning writer/director duo best known for their short film We Got a Monkey’s Paw. Zack is also known for his work on Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives as well as his film Death Has a Son; whereas Aaron is known for their feature film Sunset on the River Styx and their short film Transfer.
Aaron said, “When creating It Needs Eyes, we wanted to tap into this call of the void that so many of us have inside. Pairing that with themes of coming of age and passed-down familial trauma, we had long discussions about the kinds of videos that scared us as teenagers. We discussed how as young queer kids this was also a time we had become unmoored. Our illusions of our parents being perfect fading while our identities and place in the world didn’t make sense anymore. We had each been hit hard and fast with tragedies, meanwhile the unexplored depths online made it all seem so big, so daunting, so weird. One could just as easily find a bizarre cartoon of a nettle-obsessed mutant as they could a genuine beheading…or worse.”
Check on the Formidable File Films website (and on their Instagram accounts, linked above) to see when/where It Needs Eyes is going to be playing next. And let them know if YOU have a theater in your area that could host a showing of their film!
The Role
This email came from screenwriter/producer Travis Akbar:
“Independent South Australian production companies Nyawa Pictures, Mount Lofty Studios, and Cabana Productions have officially launched fundraising campaigns for their upcoming psychological horror feature film, The Role.
Currently casting support roles, The Role is a psychological horror feature exploring obsession, identity, ambition, and psychological collapse within the world of filmmaking and performance.
Designed as a contained but cinematic horror experience, the film combines grounded emotional drama with escalating psychological terror.
The project marks the feature directorial debut of South Australian filmmaker Adam Gerard, founder of Cabana Productions. The film stars emerging South Australian actor Murray Curtis, recognized for his intense dramatic performances and grounded screen presence, in particular as Jeff Reed in The Speedway Murders.”
If you’re interested in helping to bring The Role to life, you can join their Kickstarter campaign (ends July 24, 2026). Australian indie horror fans can also make tax-deductible donations of over $2 to support The Role through their Australian Cultural Fund campaign.
Pancake Man
Bron Theron wrote to let even know that his newest film, Pancake Man, is now streaming on Tubi!
He said that Pancake Man fits into the “revenge thriller” subgenre of horror. He added, “I am currently showing my new film Fear Anonymous in theaters. I am known for the film Half Dead Fred that released in 2023.”
The plot of Pancake Man: “After Jerry is pushed to the point of no return he decides to take revenge on everyone who has done him wrong. His first kill ignites the fury of a Mob bosses son and sparks a robbery from the local gang. It is a day of carnage and redemption for the three parties. Jerry is called the ‘Pancake Man’ by the press after he was denied pancakes in the beginning of the story.”
June 2026 Indie Horror Short Films
Stomach It
This was a lovely update to get! Back in September of 2024, the creators of Stomach It let us know that their short film was making its horror film festival runs. And NOW… We got another email letting us know that it’s finally available for EVERYONE to watch!
Stomach It made its worldwide online premiere on the CryptTV YouTube channel at the end of last month. You can watch the full 13-minute film HERE.
Stomach It was written and directed by Peter Klausner and stars Jon Lee Richardson. Without too many spoilers, it’s about a crime scene cleaner who runs into some (psychological? supernatural?!) problems during a late-night job.
Stalker
Indie horror filmmaker David Cholewa wrote to let everyone know that his short film STALKER is currently making its film festival runs! It’s already won quite a few awards, too, including “Best Horror Short” at the Hot Springs Horror Festival, A Night of Horror, and FirstGlance Los Angeles as well as “Best Sci-Fi Short” at the Fantasy Film Fest in Paris.
David said, “STALKER is a tense, grounded take on the stalker subgenre, blending psychological horror with a very real-world perspective on urban violence and the vulnerability of women in public spaces. [It was] shot on location in Paris with a tiny budget of only 5K.” He added, “Rather than relying on traditional genre tropes, the film builds unease through realism, sound design, and perspective — aiming to leave the viewer with a lingering sense of discomfort.”
Check StalkerTheMovie.com to see where this short horror film is playing next!
June 2026 Indie Horror Books
Natural Thorn Killers: A Creeping Guide to Plant Horror
I got an email from a fellow horror-lovin’ Lauren! She and her writing partner wrote a book about killer plant horror movies together. I think that’s super cool! Here’s a bit more about the book:
“In this book, Lauren Jane Barnett and Tony Mardon strap on their hazmat suits and wield their weedkiller to venture into the fascinating world of arboreal monsters in horror cinema. Along the way, they consider flora from outer space; man-made monsters; mushrooms and fungi; killer trees; naturally evolved threats; grasslands and cornfields; and a cornucopia of other films related to the genre. Step inside and discover a wealth of cinematic delights dedicated to what happens when the plants take over!”
The book is 253 pages long and covers over 50 killer plant horror movies. Including Matango! I was excited about that. It’s a fave and it doesn’t get nearly enough attention. They covered quite a few other more “obscure”/forgotten films in the subgenre as well, plus several very recent films from this century like 2023’s Dark Harvest.
Lauren Jane Barnett is also the co-host of the London Horror Movie Club podcast, she wrote the first walking guide to London’s horror films (Death Lines: Walking London’s Horror History), created an award-winning horror short film (Darner), made appearances in Video Shop Tales of Terror 2 and the upcoming The Witches of the Sands, and when she’s not writing horror-related books she’s working on horror screenplays.
Tony Mardon is also an indie horror veteran and has worked as an actor, writer, and director. In addition to Natural Thorn Killers: A Creeping Guide to Plant Horror, he’s excited about his latest indie horror film The Witches of the Sands (which he wrote, directed, and stars in) which is currently in post-production and “includes the most extensive cast of ’70s and ’80s horror stars of any film to date.”
Give Lauren and Tony some love! Exciting stuff.
A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror
The author of Tick Town, Christopher Mcklos, wrote to me again! This time, he wanted to share an awesome horror anthology book from some of the coolest indie horror authors in Wisconsin:
“The Wisconsin Chapter of the Horror Writers Association, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Writers Association and the WWA Press, have released the horror anthology A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror!
With fifteen (15) tales of Wisconsin-based horror—from spooky forests to misty lakes to shadowy small towns—by fifteen (15) Wisconsin authors, the book includes an introduction by Wisconsin’s own Bram Stoker Award-winning author Sarah Read.
‘If you were to imagine the home state of horror,’ Read writes in her introduction, ‘Wisconsin might not come to mind. After all, we’re a jolly bunch, and who could experience dread in the presence of so much excellent cheese? I assure you, horror is alive and well in the state of Wisconsin, in no small part thanks to the many voices gathered here in this volume.’
After collecting stories from members of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Horror Writers Association, the Wisconsin Writers Association sponsored a contest in the spring of 2025 to find three (3) additional stories from WWA writers. The contest was judged by horror fan and literary agent Claire Harris of Helm Literary.
A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror is available now in hard cover, paperback, and digital formats.”
Hailing from Fitchburg, Wisconsin, Christopher Mcklos is one of the 15 horror authors featured in the anthology!
June 2026 Indie Horror Video Games
The Incident
“My name is Cash, and I’m a 15 year old solo indie developer making games under the name RemasGames.
My horror game, The Incident, is a first-person psychological horror game set inside a closed circus after a mysterious event causes everything to shut down overnight. The player is sent in to destroy evidence before investigators arrive, but as they explore the circus, it becomes clear that something or someone is still inside.
The game focuses on atmosphere, mystery, exploration, and tension rather than just constant jumpscares.”
Due to their age, I obtained permission from Cash’s legal guardian to share their big news about their game. This was such a cool message to get! I started my own career at 15 but that was a looooooooooong time ago and teenagers and I don’t run in the same circles so while I do my best to find horror that may appeal to that age group, I’m always coming at it from the perspective of an adult offering advice to fellow adults as to what films/shows/other are “safe” horror choices for kid/tween/teen audiences. This is the second time an actual teen horror creator has sent in news and it’s fascinating! It makes me smile knowing that the horror genre will live on long after I will and that the youth of today are already putting in the work to put their own terrifying ideas out there. 🙂
Anyway, enough of my old lady rambles. You can wishlist The Incident on Steam. Cash said that it will be releasing on June 29, 2026 and they expect the playtime to be around a 40-minute experience.
Menace from the Deep
Flat Lab’s 2024 Lovecraft-inspired roughlike deckbuilder Menace from the Deep is now available on consoles! As of this month, you can play the PC hit on XBOX, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.
From their message: “Explore the grim world inspired by Cthulhu Mythos and collect memory fragments to uncover the secret society. Experience the gritty atmosphere through your multiple runs, upgrade your cards to shape unique strategies and most importantly – try not to lose your sanity.”
No-Skin
NoEye-Soft’s 2025 horror rougelike No-Skin (rated “overwhelmingly positive” by over 1000 players on Steam!) is now available on consoles!! As of this month, you can play it on XBOX, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.
From their email: “What started as a normal night with your friends, quickly turned into something far more twisted. Fight, talk, trade and pray for one more turn as you delve deeper into each room, trying to survive this madness. No-Skin features a unique art style with hand-drawn pixel art characters, high replayability, permanent upgrades that carry over between runs, and an unsettling horror atmosphere where every corner hides something uncanny!”
June 2026 Indie Horror Audio Projects
“Scorned” by Cranial Rat Infestation
I wasn’t sure whether to include this announcement in Horror Books or Horror Music because it’s BOTH! Cranial Rat Infestation AKA Jesse Lemons is a one-man band and horror comic book creator.
Their newest songs, “Scorn,” “Torn,” “Mourn,” and “Reborn” were created as a soundtrack to their horror comic Evan Torn. You can check out a WIP preview of Evan Torn while you jam to their music. I was also told that there’s a bonus track – “Forlorn” – for folks who buy the limited edition CD version of the complete album.
From their email: “CRANIAL RAT INFESTATION is the brainchild of Jesse Lemons, a one-man collision of heavy metal, industrial chaos, and raw emotion. Every scream, riff, and mix comes straight from his home studio — no band, no budget, no limits. Stream CRANIAL RAT INFESTATION on YouTube and Spotify!”
“Silence Won’t Protect You” by MZZTR
FLASHING LIGHTS WARNING for the music video above! Also, I appreciated that MZZTR included their lyrics in the “Description” section of their video. My metalhead husband is great at following along with just about every jam but my auditory processing issues often leave me like “???” for many of the harder music subgenres. Note to bands – Please follow MZZTR’s example and share your lyrics with the world! Anyway, here’s MZZTR’s news:
“NYC shock-metal act MZZTR have officially released their debut EP Pronounced MIS-TER.
Equal parts theater, chaos and sonic violence, MZZTR exists for one reason – to make music dangerous again. This truly unique band is a masked middle finger to the era of polished algorithms and personalities that consume modern culture.
The EP is available on digital and limited-edition red-rocket cassette formats. Order Pronounced MIS-TER at mzztr.bandcamp.com.”
“Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse!” by FULCI
My husband, our friend Cake, and I all thought this one was was really neat! None of us know what they’re saying/singing (we don’t know Italian), but they’re seriously rocking out. Here’s the announcement from FULCI’s representative:
“Coming on the heels of the band’s most successful LP, 2024’s Duck Face Killings, FULCI return with a special 12” maxi-single serving as the soundtrack to the short film Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! (They Rose From the Tomb and It Was… The Apocalypse!).
Created in collaboration with director Domenico Montixi, the 30-minute film merges paranormal horror with Spaghetti Western atmosphere, drawing direct inspiration from Lucio Fulci’s City Of The Living Dead and Four Of The Apocalypse. The film is set to begin its international festival run soon, with a trailer premiering at FULCICON 2 in Milan, the event organized by the band FULCI to celebrate Lucio Fulci and Italian genre cinema.
The maxi-single features a suite of new FULCI compositions that drift between eerie, cinematic soundscapes evoking the Lovecraftian aura of Lucio Fulci’s films, and the band’s signature gore-giallo death metal. It also includes a special cover of Fabio Frizzi’s “Apoteosi Del Mistero” from City Of The Living Dead. Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! further expands the band’s cinematic universe where extreme music and cult horror collide, serving as a uniquely atmospheric release bridging Duck Face Killings, the band’s relentless touring schedule, and the eventual arrival of their fifth full-length album.
Produced by FULCI, recorded at Spvn, mixed and mastered by Stefano Santi, and completed with cover art by Lucas Ruggieri, title card by Caterina Solinas, and layout/design by ascionemagro, the record features guest vocals on “Apoteosi Del Mistero” by Nate Garrett (Spirit Adrift, Neon Nightmare). This is a must-hear release for fans of Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Merauder, Suffocation, Madball, Goblin, Fabio Frizzi, and Slayer.
FULCI’s Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! is now streaming everywhere including YouTube!”
“Prowler Twin Sister” by Lair of the Minotaur
Per the email I got: “Chicago’s savage trio LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR delivered their monstrous fifth album – their first in sixteen years – unveiling the merciless I HAIL I, through The Grind-House Records on May 1st. While the past several years saw the band emerging with several new singles, they’ve not released an album since 2010’s acclaimed Evil Power.”
You can check out their new album on LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s Bandcamp page! Also, if you’re in the Chicago area, you can catch the band performing LIVE at the following venues:
- 6/20/2026 Ramova Theater – Chicago, IL @ Motoblot Festival After Party w/ High On Fire, Barren Heir
- 7/10/2026 The Hideout – Chicago, IL *Record Release Show w/ Primal Code, Inoculation, Motherless
“Bring Back the Fear” by MORDEO
Hailing from my home state of California, MORDEO formed in 2023 with the goal to “reflect the ugliness of the present moment and turn it into something communal, loud, and impossible to tune out.” They’re a sludge/crust band with death metal influences and I have zero idea what they’re saying but they’re really going for it! MY fingers felt sore just watching them play. Frank said, “I like their energy!”
They’d like to announce that their self-titled album MORDEO is being released through Hypaethral Records as a digital album and as a limited-edition vinyl record (in three designer colors, including blood red!).
Other June 2026 Indie Horror Projects
Charred Pictures
Indie horror creator and producer Alanah Pearce emailed me to announce her launch of Charred Pictures, an independent production company dedicated to adapting video game intellectual property for film and television, in close collaboration with original developers. As a horror creator herself who has an extreme passion for horror video games, she’s very excited about the collaborations she has lined up. And while she’s not accepting unsolicited materials right now, it’s nice to know that she and Charred Pictures are out there and looking for indie horror projects to adapt. (Maybe she’ll find someone right here in one of my Indie Horror Inbox Roundups!!).
Alanah Pearce said, “Video games are awesome, and the people who make them are awesome! Part of the reason game developers manage to capture such huge audiences —which is what Hollywood is so interested in chasing—is because their stories come from the heart, and a lot of adaptations lose that. I’m so excited to help game developers start making adaptations their way, on their terms, and with their vision – straight from the heart.”
Pearce is working closely with Abubakar Salim (House of the Dragon, Raised By Wolves), actor, writer, game developer and founder of Surgent Studios to co-write and co-produce multiple projects, including the Charred Pictures’ first adaptation in development, DEAD TAKE. Based on the 2025 first-person narrative horror game, the story explores the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the lengths individuals will go to achieve fame.
Charred Pictures is also developing a film adaptation of FAITH: THE UNHOLY TRINITY, the survival horror trilogy developed by Airdorf Games and published by New Blood Interactive. Written and produced by Pearce and directed by Brandon Salisbury, the film follows a young priest confronting demons, cultists, and his own fractured faith amid the paranoia of the 1980’s “Satanic Panic.” The film will be executive produced by Airdorf.
In addition to its adaptation slate, Charred Pictures is producing original content, including GODMOTHER, a psychological horror feature that recently wrapped production. Directed by John Veron and co-written by Veron and Pearce, the film follows a couple whose romantic desert getaway takes a sinister turn when they encounter an unsettling pair of retirees. The film is executive produced by Sean McLoughlin AKA Jacksepticeye, who has an ongoing creative relationship with the company.
Those are all of the new & upcoming horror projects that ended up in my inbox for this month! However, since the Indie Horror Inbox Roundup is now MONTHLY (instead of tri-annual), you’ll be seeing more indie horror submissions in just a few weeks. 🙂
If you’d like to have YOUR horror creation show up in the next roundup post, be sure to send me an email by no later than June 26, 2026. (Note: You can reserve a spot for a month later than July on the submission page if you’d like to plan ahead!).
Come back on July 3, 2026 for next HorrorFam.com Indie Horror Inbox Roundup! Or, come back next Friday for our usual HorrorFam.com fun ♥ Thank you again to everyone who shared their June 2026 indie horror projects with us!!
Images used were provided by their respective owners and used with their permission. As always, any vertical images that were submitted were placed over a blurred background to be made horizontal.
