Actor Amber Midthunder has revealed the first details about her role in the upcoming psychological body horror film Rot, which is being produced by prominent horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan through his company, Red Room Pictures.
The independent feature marks the directorial debut of Alexandra Magistro, a long-time executive and creative collaborator at Flanagan's production banner. The screenplay, written by Geo Bradley, previously gained industry recognition on the 2024 Black List.
Rot follows an antisocial man suffering from obsessive-compulsive tendencies who is haunted by the sudden death of his hoarder mother. In an attempt to confront his psychological trauma, he takes a job as a professional trauma cleaner. However, the nature of the work quickly begins to infest his mind and dismantle his mental stability.
Speaking about the upcoming project, Amber Midthunder praised Alexandra Magistro’s transition to the director's chair and highlighted the filmmaker's deep understanding of the horror genre.
A Creative Shift for the 'Prey' Breakthrough Star
Amber Midthunder, who earned widespread acclaim for her starring role in the 2022 Predator prequel Prey, indicated that her character in Rot represents a distinct departure from her previous work. The actor described the upcoming performance as a "very new" type of role for her career trajectory.
In an interview with Collider, Amber Midthunder expressed strong confidence in Alexandra Magistro's vision and creative leadership.
"I love Alex. Alex is not new to us at all," Amber Midthunder said, referencing Alexandra Magistro's established presence behind the scenes on previous genre projects. "She’s an incredible mind and artist. I mean, I could talk about her for, like, 30 minutes straight."
The actor further commended the director's grasp of character development and structural storytelling during the script's development phases.
"She's so smart, she loves the horror genre, and there just isn't a moment when she's not so keyed in to a story, a character," Amber Midthunder added. "She also really deserves this moment."
An Established Ensemble Cast Reunites
The production of Rot serves as a reunion for several members of the cast and crew. Amber Midthunder and co-star Matthew Lillard are set to share the screen again shortly after working together on Flanagan's television project. The two feature prominently in Mike Flanagan’s upcoming eight-episode adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie for Prime Video, where Matthew Lillard plays Principal Grayle and Amber Midthunder portrays a schoolteacher.
Joining Amber Midthunder and Matthew Lillard in the principal cast is Cooper Koch, who recently received an Emmy nomination for his performance as Erik Menendez in Netflix’s crime anthology series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
While specific details regarding individual character dynamics remain under wraps, screenwriter Geo Bradley has previously described the film’s tonal direction as "Repulsion by way of Cronenberg," signaling a heavy reliance on psychological dread and physical psychological body horror tropes.
Behind the Scenes at Red Room Pictures
Though Rot marks Alexandra Magistro's first time directing a full-length feature, she possesses an extensive background within Mike Flanagan’s production framework. Over nearly a decade with Red Room Pictures, she has served in various capacities, including working as Flanagan's assistant on Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and The Midnight Club.
Alexandra Magistro later advanced to associate producer on Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher and the feature film The Life of Chuck. She currently holds the position of Vice President of Creative at Red Room Pictures. Her ongoing collaborations with Mike Flanagan also include serving as a writer and producer on the Carrie miniseries, and acting as an executive producer on the upcoming studio film The Exorcist: Martyrs.
Mike Flanagan is shepherding the Mike Flanagan horror movie Rot as a producer alongside Molly C. Quinn, Matthew M. Welty, and Elan Gale of the production company QWGmire.
Production Timeline and What Comes Next
Principal photography for Rot is scheduled to begin in Vancouver, British Columbia, in November 2026. A definitive theatrical or streaming release date has not yet been announced by Red Room Pictures or the film's distributors.
Before Rot enters full production, audiences can see Amber Midthunder, Matthew Lillard, and the broader ensemble in Flanagan's Carrie adaptation, which premieres all eight episodes on Prime Video on October 7, 2026.
Red Room Pictures is currently managing a busy slate of genre projects. In addition to Rot and The Exorcist: Martyrs, Mike Flanagan is developing a new feature film adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Mist for Warner Bros. Pictures, with a completed script expected by late autumn.
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