Shudder Secures Post-Apocalyptic Halloween Thriller **“Hallowarrior”** Ahead of Tribeca Premiere

Shudder announced the acquisition of *Hallowarrior*, a post-apocalyptic Halloween thriller written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Ben Sottak. The deal covers North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The film will world-premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 10, 2026, and will launch on Shudder’s streaming platform in the fall of 2026.

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Ben Sottak, a New York-based commercial director whose work includes spots for Warheads, Sweethearts and the PGA Tour, makes his narrative feature debut with *Hallowarrior*. His short-form horror projects have screened at Fantasia, FrightFest, Telluride Horror Show and the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. The film is produced by Emmajane Hoffman and Gabriel Rosenstein for Strange Aeons and The Spitting Image, with executive producers Alec Ring and Shannyn Sossamon.

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The lead role of Pumpkin—described as “the last girl on earth” after a humanity-ending plague—is played by Milly Shapiro (known for *Hereditary*). Supporting actors include Ajani Russell (*Skate Kitchen*), AJ Bowen (*You’re Next*), and Shannyn Sossamon (*A Knight’s Tale*) as the raider leader Thalia.

First Look at ‘Hereditary’s Milly Shapiro in Tribeca Horror ‘Hallowarrior’; Acquired by Shudder

• June 2026 – Shudder announces acquisition ahead of the festival.

First Look at ‘Hereditary’s Milly Shapiro in Tribeca Horror ‘Hallowarrior’; Acquired by Shudder

• June 10, 2026 – World premiere at Tribeca’s Escape lineup, held at The Village East by Angelika, NYC.

First Look at ‘Hereditary’s Milly Shapiro in Tribeca Horror ‘Hallowarrior’; Acquired by Shudder

• Fall 2026 – Streaming debut on Shudder across the acquired territories.

First Look at ‘Hereditary’s Milly Shapiro in Tribeca Horror ‘Hallowarrior’; Acquired by Shudder

The acquisition grants Shudder exclusive rights in five territories: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The film’s premise centers on Pumpkin defending her Halloween ritual against a gang of raiders armed with candy, wit and weapons.

Variety Magazine

*Hallowarrior* expands Shudder’s Halloween-season slate with a genre-specific, indie-driven title that aligns with the platform’s reputation for bold horror. The film’s festival exposure and subsequent streaming release illustrate a pathway for emerging filmmakers to reach global horror audiences through niche streaming services.

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Ben Sottak expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that the film’s homage to Halloween horror fits naturally with Shudder’s brand. Shudder’s acquisitions director, Adam Koehler, highlighted the film’s “strong scares, spooky atmosphere and a wild ride,” emphasizing its resonance with the platform’s core horror audience.

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No dissenting commentary or criticism was reported in the available sources.

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• “’Hallowarrior’ is a love letter to horror and Halloween, and I am thrilled that the film has found its home with a distributor whose brand is synonymous with both,” — Ben Sottak, Writer-Director

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• “It’s an honor to have ‘Hallowarrior’ join the Shudder family, and a treat to introduce their audience to this fun, scary, gory film along with its badass lead, Pumpkin, played by the incredible Milly Shapiro.” — Ben Sottak

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• “The movie is dripping with nostalgic fall atmosphere, cheer-inducing kills, and a lovable ‘final girl’ played by the brilliant Milly Shapiro.” — Ben Sottak

First Look at ‘Hereditary’s Milly Shapiro in Tribeca Horror ‘Hallowarrior’; Acquired by Shudder

• “From the moment we saw ‘Hallowarrior,’ we knew this was a natural fit for Shudder. The film fully understands what genre fans come to the platform for — strong scares, spooky atmosphere and a wild ride. It’s the kind of horror that plays directly to our audience and reinforces why the service is such a trusted home for bold, crowd-pleasing genre filmmaking, especially around the Halloween season,” — Adam Koehler, Shudder Acquisitions Director

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Following its Tribeca screening, *Hallowarrior* will be reviewed by festival critics and slated for Shudder’s fall programming schedule. The platform’s promotion will target horror enthusiasts seeking new “final-girl” narratives for the Halloween season.

Variety Magazine