Horror Thriller 'Hellcat' Sells to Shudder for North America

Psychological horror film marks the feature directorial debut of Brock Bodell.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Shudder has secured the North American rights to the psychological horror thriller 'Hellcat,' which marks the feature directorial debut of Brock Bodell. The film will premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival and Shudder plans to release it later this year. Blue Finch Films has also closed deals for the film's distribution in Germany, the MENA region, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.

Why it matters

The acquisition of 'Hellcat' by Shudder, a leading streaming platform for horror and thriller content, highlights the growing demand for high-quality independent genre films. The film's positive critical reception at Fantasia and the involvement of experienced producers suggest it could be a breakout hit for the platform.

The details

The tense thriller centers on Lena, a woman with a severe wound who regains consciousness inside a moving camper trailer. The driver warns her they have only one hour to reach medical help before she faces a dire outcome. As her condition deteriorates and her perception of reality becomes unreliable, the question of who poses the real threat intensifies. The film features a cast led by Dakota Gorman, known for 'Natural Disasters,' and includes Todd Terry ('Breaking Bad'), Liz Atwater ('The Other People'), Jordan Mullins ('The Bikeriders'), and 'Saturday Night Live' cast member James Austin Johnson in a voice role.

  • The film will premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
  • Shudder plans to release the film later this year.

The players

Brock Bodell

The feature directorial debut of Brock Bodell, who previously gained recognition on the festival circuit with his short film 'Grief'.

Shudder

A leading streaming platform for horror and thriller content, which has secured the North American rights to 'Hellcat'.

Blue Finch Films

A U.K.-based sales and distribution company that has also closed deals for the film's distribution in Germany, the MENA region, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.

Dakota Gorman

The lead actress in the film, known for her work in 'Natural Disasters'.

Todd Terry

An actor in the film, known for his role in 'Breaking Bad'.

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What’s next

The film will premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival, and Shudder plans to release it later this year.

The takeaway

The success of 'Hellcat' could pave the way for more independent horror and thriller films to find distribution on popular streaming platforms, further expanding the genre's reach and appeal to audiences.