Shudder has released the trailer for Parasomnia, the debut feature from writer-director James Ross II, arriving on the platform Friday, September 4.
The film follows Riley, a young woman tormented by night terrors and a past of unresolved tragedy. When her best friend becomes the latest to go missing, she begins to suspect the demonic figure lurking in her sleep has crossed over into the real world.
Starring Jasmine Mathews, Stephen Barrington, RJ Brown, Sally Stewart, Danny Brown and Simon Longnight, Parasomnia was acquired by Shudder earlier this year following its premiere at the Overlook Film Festival. Ross, who was raised in the Washington D.C. area, entered the industry in 2023 when he was selected as one of five graduate students to receive a Gotham Award for his horror short film Don’t Blink.
Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street was a key influence on the project. “When Wes Craven made A Nightmare on Elm Street, he brought forth an untapped goldmine of fear that resonates decades later due to the foundation of its scares being built on universal human experience,” Ross said. “I’d like to bring a fresh perspective on the frightening aspects of sleep and take the audience on an immersive experience that will stay in their mind long after the credits roll.”
Early critical response has been strong. Dread Central called it “a terrifying debut feature” with “wild paranormal lore and serious scares,” while The Hollywood News described it as “bold, bloody and bloodcurdling.”
The film is produced by Gabrielle Chapman and Pacey Hansen, with Christopher Lee Fatt as director of photography and Peter Gvozdas and Ash C. Wilson editing. Parasomnia runs 85 minutes and premieres September 4 on Shudder.