Terror takes on a twisted new form in Abruptio, a nightmarish descent into paranoia and puppetry. Written and directed by Evan Marlowe, this sinister thriller follows Les Hackel, a man who wakes up to find an explosive device embedded in his neck. His only chance at survival? Commit heinous crimes at the command of an unseen force. But there’s something even more disturbing at play—every character in this film is portrayed by an eerie, lifeless puppet. With a unique blend of horror, psychological torment, and grotesque artistry, Abruptio is poised to be unlike anything the genre has seen before.
Lurking behind the film’s puppet façade is a truly spine-chilling cast. Horror legend Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger himself) lends his unmistakable voice to the mysterious Mr. Salk, while Jordan Peele steps into the darkness as Danny. James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Hana Mae Lee (The Babysitter), and the late Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses) add to the film’s unsettling presence. Christopher McDonald, best known as Happy Gilmore’s smug Shooter McGavin, takes a rare step into horror as Police Chief Richter.
The late, great Sid Haig delivers one of his final performances, adding his signature menace to the film’s eerie atmosphere.
With its haunting tagline, “Everyone’s A Puppet,” Abruptio teases a bleak, paranoia-fueled nightmare where unseen hands pull the strings. The trailer offers a glimpse of its grotesque, uncanny world—where every movement is stiff, every expression frozen, and the tension is suffocating. If you think you’re in control, think again. Abruptio hits theaters September 27, and once you enter its world, you may never feel quite real again.