The Other People Is a Claustrophobic Horror About a House That Isn't Empty

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The Other People 2026 movie poster

The house has other plans for this family.

There are few horror ideas more uncomfortable than the possibility that your house isn't actually yours., and The Other People takes that simple fear and turns it into a claustrophobic psychological horror story about a family trying to rebuild their lives while something strange appears to be hiding inside their new home. 

Bryce Johnson stars as William Marsh, a recently widowed father whose attempt to give his eight-year-old daughter a fresh start quickly becomes something much darker, and the film comes from writer-director Chad McClarnon, making his feature directorial debut, with the screenplay co-written with his brother Trey McClarnon. Lyndie Greenwood, Valentina Lucido, Quinnlan Ashe, B.D. Boudreaux and Ashley Crow round out the cast.

A New Home Hides Something That Shouldn't Be There

William is still dealing with the death of his wife when he and his troubled eight-year-old daughter Abby move into a new home, where things initially seem like an opportunity to start over, particularly after William meets Rachel, played by Lyndie Greenwood, and the two eventually begin building a new family together.

Abby, however, has already found a friend,but the problem is that nobody else can see him - the boy apparently lives somewhere within the hidden corners of the house, and Abby's relationship with him gradually becomes impossible for the adults around her to dismiss, and as Rachel becomes increasingly concerned about what is happening, strange noises, shadows and unexplained disturbances begin making the house feel like somewhere the family has accidentally invaded.

The Other People is built around the uncomfortable idea that the walls separating a family from whatever is lurking around them may not be as secure as they think.

Bryce Johnson Leads a Family Already Carrying Its Own Baggage

Bryce Johnson takes the role of William, the grieving father attempting to keep his daughter together while starting a new relationship - Johnson has appeared across film and television, including Pretty Little Liars, and his casting gives the central family drama some grounding before the supernatural elements start taking over.

Lyndie Greenwood plays Rachel, while newcomer Valentina Lucido plays Abby - Greenwood is known for Sleepy Hollow and The Expanse, and the film's festival reception has specifically highlighted the strength of its cast.

McClarnon appears particularly interested in the idea that a building can provide the illusion of safety without actually providing any, and the director has described this concept as the “falseness of walls” - the assumption that locking the doors and closing the windows means you're protected from everything outside. 

A Festival Run Has Already Given It Some Serious Attention

The film premiered at Cinequest before appearing at genre festivals including FrightFest and Fantaspoa. It was also selected for the 2026 Popcorn List, highlighting notable films from the festival circuit, and more importantly, it has already collected some awards.

The film won the Audience Award at Nashville Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at deadCenter Film Festival, and Best Screenplay at La Samhain du Cinéma Fantastique - it also received a Best Narrative Feature nomination at the Rome International Film Festival.

The film is being released by The Horror Collective, the genre label of Studio Dome, and the Other People will arrive on major digital platforms on September 15, 2026. 

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