SXSW 2026 had its fair share of noteworthy films this year, but on the horror front, none made quite the splash that “Never After Dark” did. Now the Japanese horror film is ready to bow in theaters later this Fall, and Magnolia Pictures has a new trailer for it ready for audiences.
Set in Japan, “Never After Dark” follows a medium, played by Moeka Hoshi, whose latest job sees her go to an isolated house in the country that harbors darker secrets than she’s ever faced before.
Here’s an officials synopsis for “Never After Dark,” courtesy of Magnolia Pictures:
Winner of the SXSW Midnighter Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival, NEVER AFTER DARK stars SAG Award and Critics’ Choice Award Winner Moeka Hoshi (SHOGUN) as Airi, a wandering medium who spends her life guiding restless spirits out of the world of the living. Summoned to an isolated country house, she comes face to face with a grotesque apparition with powers that defy Airi’s experience. As she digs deeper into the house’s past, a secret comes to light — and Airi finds herself hunted by a far more unpredictable force. For the first time, her greatest adversary is not the supernatural, but the living.
Along with Hoshi, “Never After Dark” also stars Kento Kaku, Kurumi Inagaki, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Bokuzu Masan, and Tae Kimura.
Dave Boyle writes and directs “Never After Dark,” his first film since 2014’s “The Man From Reno.” Other recent credits for the Japan-based director include the Netflix series “House Of Ninjas.”
As noted earlier, “Never After Dark” had its world premiere at SXSW 2026. The film’s festival run also included screenings at The Overlook Film Festival, Fantasia Fest, and also screened as part of Film At Lincoln Center‘s “Scary Movies XIV” summer series.
“Never After Dark” hits theaters on September 25. Watch the trailer for the horror film below.
