"I never yearned for any of this chaos! All I crave is to return home, safe and sound!" "But you are already there..." Will she unravel the path leading her out? Decal Releasing has unveiled the comprehensive official trailer for "The Occupant," an indie survival thriller from the visionary filmmaker Hugo Keijzer. This captivating film premiered at the esteemed 2025 SXSW London Film Festival and is poised for a US release in early August. A suspenseful and singularly enigmatic sci-fi survival tale, set amidst the isolated taiga of Georgia, "The Occupant" stars Ella Balinska, Stuart Graham, and Rob Delaney.
Abby, a guilt-laden engineering geologist en route from a solitary assignment, narrowly escapes a bizarre helicopter crash. Amidst the harrowing ordeal, she must battle the unforgiving terrain and navigate her way back to the sanctuary of her home. Yet, she is not alone in her struggle. Clutching her walkie-talkie, she converses with an unseen figure, hoping for guidance to freedom—but is this voice a figment of her imagination? This "twist-laden and ingenious survival thriller" will have you on tenterhooks till the very end. The trailer is nothing short of mesmerizing—creepy, chilling, and utterly riveting. What is the significance of this mysterious rock? Is it manipulating her sanity? Only one path leads to the truth.
Ella Balinska portrays Abby, a desperate geologist who undertakes a lucrative yet perilous mining job in the desolate wilderness of Northern Georgia to finance her sister's experimental cancer treatment. When her helicopter crashes and her radio becomes her solitary connection to the outside world, Abby finds herself ensnared in a survival scenario that blends icy landscapes with psychological battles. Enter John (Rob Delaney), an enigmatic voice on the opposite end. He is charming, helpful... but might he be a phantom? As Abby's oxygen dwindles and her doubts escalate, the pressing question isn't how she will escape but who she is conversing with... and what their true intentions are. Is she truly in dialogue with a benefactor who professes to "understand her plight perfectly"? Frightened, isolated, and clueless about her path to safety.
Directed by indie filmmaker Hugo Keijzer in his feature directorial debut following numerous acclaimed short films, "The Occupant" boasts a screenplay penned by Philip Michael Howe, Hugo Keijzer, Roelof Jan Minneboo, and Xiao Tang. The film is produced by Kwesi Dickson, Isabel Freer, Jay Taylor, and Raymond van der Kaaij. Having recently premiered at the 2025 SXSW London Film Festival, Decal will introduce "The Occupant" in select US theaters and on Video On Demand (VOD) starting August 8th, 2025. Intrigued yet?
