Movies
‘Mimics’ Teaser – Kristoffer Polaha’s Horror Rom Com Turns the Spotlight on Pesky Puppet Fergus
From the mind of Kristoffer Polaha comes his directorial debut, Mimics, a genre-bending blend of horror, fun, and romance that hits theaters February 6, 2026 via Panormaic Pictures. Variety dropped the first trailer and poster today, which you can now view below.
Here’s the logline: “Down-on-his-luck impressionist Sam Reinhold makes a pact with Fergus—a wicked, strings-attached puppet—that holds the promise to propel Sam to stardom, unleashing a nightmare that threatens the safety of those he holds dear.”
Filmed in Reno, Nevada, Mimics stars Nashville-based Latina Country singer Mōriah, Saturday Night Live icon Chris Parnell, the great Stephen Tobolowsky, and Polaha himself in the featured role.
“I was drawn to this unique story that explores fame and the supernatural, while managing to be at turns funny, romantic, and spooky,” says Polaha. “The movie is a romp. Working on both sides of the camera to tell this story was an extremely gratifying experience.”
Rounding out the cast is Jesse Hutch (Homestead), Jason Marsden (Hocus Pocus) and Austin Basis (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). The film was produced by Ken Carpenter (The Shift, Flint) under his Nook Lane Entertainment banner, along with Polaha, Adam Karm, and Ben Wagner, with Podunk Productions and AKA Productions.
“I’ve collaborated with Kris several times, where he’s always delivered so well as an actor,” Carpenter adds. “I had every confidence that as a director, he’d find the spine of this special story. He had a firm grasp on the directing wheel at every turn (while also acting and producing), and managed to blend elements of comedy, romance, and a thriller into a fun, scary, and cohesive story. That’s no small task. I’m eager for audiences to step into the world he created for Mimics.”
A handful already have as Polaha’s genre mashup recently premiered to acclaim at the Cordillera International Film Festival. Panoramic Pictures’ CEO Michael Scott says, “Kristoffer and Ken and the team they put together have told a very engaging story that’s entertaining and timely. We’re very much looking forward to taking the film out in theaters in February.”
Movies
Christopher Landon to Helm Feature Adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s ‘The Final Girl Support Group’
A new feature adaptation of author Grady Hendrix‘s slasher book The Final Girl Support Group is now on the way from Paramount Pictures, and Deadline reports that it’s found its director in Christopher Landon (Drop, Happy Death Day).
The two previously collaborated on My Best Friend’s Exorcism.
In The Final Girl Support Group, “Lynette is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are realized—someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece.”
“But the thing about final girls is that no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.”
I wrote in my novel review for BD, “Hendrix puts his characters through the absolute wringer. It’s a bloody, vicious voyage for the flawed heroine, both physically and emotionally. In terms of action and horror, Support Group delivers breakneck pacing and thrills.”
Five years ago, Andy Muschietti & Barbara Muschietti (Mama, It, It Chapter Two) were attached to produce a planned series adaptation for HBO Max alongside Charlize Theron. While Theron is no longer producing, the Muschiettis remain on board under their Double Dream label.
Paramount Pictures is also developing Hendrix’s sci-fi novella, BadAsstronauts.
You must be logged in to post a comment.