A fresh supernatural horror movie is making its way to audiences, and we’re thrilled to offer an exclusive first look at a collection of stills from Five Must Die. This upcoming occult thriller comes from director and co-writer Ryan Kelly, who delivers a claustrophobic supernatural nightmare filled with mystery, psychological horror, and biting dark humor.
In Five Must Die, six unfamiliar individuals regain consciousness imprisoned within an expansive mansion with no recollection of their arrival. They soon discover they have been selected by the vengeful spirit of a young woman who was driven to take her own life due to their actions. Their sole glimmer of hope arrives through an agent from the Federal Bureau of Paranormal Containment, who presents them with a harrowing ultimatum regarding what must transpire to halt the entity’s wrath.
Ryan Kelly shared his passion for confined horror narratives, stating, “I’ve always been drawn to films that take place within a single location, and I thoroughly enjoy ensemble casts. This project amalgamates those elements and filters them through horror, comedy, and a touch of Agatha Christie-inspired mystery. That combination—tight, character-driven, yet still entertaining, unpredictable, and surprising—represents exactly the kind of movie I enjoy watching.”
Kelly further elaborated, “I aimed to create something in the vein of the films I grew up watching—high-concept stories featuring strong characters, significant audience moments, and genuine emotion beneath the spectacle. That’s the feeling I’m pursuing with Five Must Die, and if we can capture even a fraction of it, I’ll be immensely satisfied.”
Veteran Broadway and film producer Michael Alden (Kissing Jessica Stein, Unzipped, The Zookeeper, Batboy: The Musical, Grey Gardens, The King’s Speech) brought his expertise to bring Kelly’s vision to fruition.
Michael Alden explained his attraction to the project: “I’ve always been drawn to narratives centered around the unknown and the unexplainable. There’s something deeply compelling about stories where unseen forces and unanswered mysteries create genuine danger, where what we don’t comprehend has the power to devastate us. I’m particularly fascinated by the human element within those narratives: who possesses the intelligence, speed, or patience to survive, uncover the truth, and find a way out before it’s too late.”
Star Beth Broderick, making her horror film debut, expressed enthusiasm about her role: “I was attracted to this project for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s an exceptionally strong script, and the characters, including my role as Margaret, are very well developed. Margaret is a retired FBI special ops agent. She’s tough, experienced, and sincere. I’ve always wanted the opportunity to play that kind of ‘old cop’ role in film and television, so it was a really enjoyable character to tackle.”
Co-star and executive producer Jared P-Smith offered thoughts on human nature and the paranormal: “Human nature drives us to explore and explain the unknown, but phenomena like possessions, hauntings, ghosts, and aliens still resist clear answers. That mystery is what keeps people captivated. We understand something like gravity, so it no longer amazes us in the same way, but the paranormal remains unexplained, and that makes it endlessly compelling.”
Co-written by David Landau, the film stars Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) alongside Jared P-Smith (The Equalizer) and a talented ensemble cast, blending psychological terror, supernatural horror, and dark humor into a nightmare where survival comes at a terrifying price.
The film also features Sarah Baskin (Gossip Girl: Next Gen), Vandit Bhatt (New Amsterdam, Quantico), Gabrielle DuBrul, Briana Femia, Chris Maher, Carmen Salta, Taylor Selé (Godfather of Harlem, Survival of the Thickest), and Andrew Ximenes.
Michael Alden produces alongside Steve Barton (Terrifier 2, George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead, E! True Hollywood Story), Kelly Hall, Ryan Kelly, Michael Kuciak (Death Metal, From the Shadows, Killer Party), Christopher Massimine, and Ryan Savini. Paul Filanowski, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Ryan Koppelman, Jared P-Smith, Jane Petrov, Bev Ragovoy, Cheri Reeve, Kat Schon, Penny Stephenson, Barry Wolfe, Laurrelle Wolfe, and Andrew Ximenes serve as executive producers.
Academy Award winner Cecelia Hall (The Hunt for Red October, Top Gun) serves as the film’s Creative Consultant.
The storyline follows six strangers who awaken trapped inside a sprawling mansion. None of them know each other, and none understand why they are there, until an agent from the Federal Bureau of Paranormal Containment informs them that a violent spirit has marked them as its targets. As paranoia, fear, and supernatural attacks tear the group apart, the mansion becomes a crucible where hidden pasts are revealed, and moral choices turn deadly. The line between possession, free will, and vengeance begins to blur, and only those willing to confront their guilt may have a chance to survive.
Follow Snooper-Scope for continued coverage of this supernatural thriller as it nears its highly anticipated release.
