Vivian Kerr’s Séance release date is officially locked, giving horror and prestige-thriller fans a new fall title to watch. The Victorian Gothic feature will first open in select U.S. theaters before expanding to North American VOD, positioning the film as one of the more intriguing indie releases on the TV & Video radar this season.
Written, directed, produced by, and starring Kerr, Séance arrives with strong early buzz and an elegant premise: two couples, one house, one night, and the unsettling possibility that grief is not the only thing haunting them. With a theatrical launch followed by digital availability, the rollout is designed to build word of mouth for a film already earning attention from critics.
Séance release date and rollout details
The confirmed Séance release date begins with a limited U.S. theatrical opening on October 2. The film will start with a one-week engagement at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles before widening to additional cities including:
- San Francisco
- Phoenix
- Houston
- Palm Springs
- Sedona
More markets are expected to be announced. After its theatrical run, the Séance release date continues with a North American VOD debut on November 13, courtesy of Rue Dangeau. That staggered strategy gives the film a chance to attract both arthouse audiences and home viewers looking for elevated horror and psychological drama.
What ‘Séance’ is about
At the center of the Séance release date announcement is a premise built for fans of intimate, character-driven suspense. The film is described as a four-hander unfolding over the course of a single night, as two couples wrestle with:
- Marital dissatisfaction
- The lure of adultery
- Emotional manipulation
- The possibility of a haunting tied to a recently deceased loved one
The story is inspired by August Strindberg’s Creditors, which suggests that Séance is interested in psychological warfare as much as supernatural dread. Rather than relying purely on jump scares, the film appears to lean into mood, tension, and moral unease.
That combination of literary influence and haunted-house mystery gives the Séance release date a strong hook for viewers who prefer gothic thrillers with emotional depth.
Cast and creative team behind the film
Another reason the Séance release date is drawing attention is the cast. Alongside Vivian Kerr, the film stars:
- Scottie Thompson of NCIS
- Jilon VanOver of Hatfields & McCoys
- Connor Paolo of Gossip Girl
Behind the camera, the film boasts a polished indie pedigree. Cinematography comes from Johanna Coelho, with costume design by Nina Fuller and production design by Bri Jones. The movie was shot in Los Angeles, but its period mood and Victorian Gothic styling aim to create a far more timeless and claustrophobic world.
Producing credits also include Makenna Tuttle, Savannah Lindblad, Marion Kerr, and Rachel Stander, while Sanatan Kadakia and Suresh Cedrick Pereira serve as executive producers.
Why this indie thriller is generating buzz
The Séance release date lands at a moment when audiences are increasingly open to sophisticated independent genre films. Early reception adds to the momentum: the movie currently holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews.
While review aggregates never tell the whole story, that kind of critical start matters for an indie release. It signals that Séance may appeal not only to horror fans, but also to viewers who enjoy chamber dramas, literary adaptations, and relationship thrillers.
Several elements make the film stand out:
- A contained one-night structure that heightens tension
- Victorian Gothic aesthetics that separate it from more generic horror titles
- Character-focused conflict rooted in marriage and betrayal
- Prestige indie credentials from Vivian Kerr and her collaborators
Vivian Kerr’s rising profile
The Séance release date also marks another significant step for Vivian Kerr as a multi-hyphenate filmmaker. This is her second feature as a writer-director following Scrap, which premiered at the Deauville American Film Festival and later screened at 44 festivals worldwide before its 2025 release.
Kerr has also been active through Rue Dangeau, her production and distribution company. She recently came off the Sundance premiere of the independent pilot Soft Boil, which went on to play Slamdance, SeriesFest, Just for Laughs, and Cinequest, collecting audience awards at both SeriesFest and Just for Laughs.
That track record gives the Séance release date more weight than a typical indie launch. Kerr is increasingly building a reputation for smart, emotionally textured projects that can move across film and episodic storytelling spaces.
Who should watch ‘Séance’?
If you are deciding whether the Séance release date belongs on your watchlist, this film looks especially suited for viewers who enjoy:
- Gothic psychological thrillers
- Small-cast, dialogue-driven dramas
- Haunted house stories with ambiguity
- Independent films with festival buzz
- Dark relationship stories rather than effects-heavy horror
Because of its intimate setup and literary inspiration, Séance may resonate most with audiences who appreciate atmosphere and emotional tension over conventional genre spectacle.
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Final takeaway on the Séance release date
The Séance release date sets up a promising fall launch for a film that blends haunted-house unease with relationship drama and Gothic style. Opening in theaters on October 2 and arriving on VOD November 13, Séance looks poised to reach both cinephiles and streaming-first viewers. If the critical response holds, the Séance release date could mark the breakout moment for one of the season’s most compelling indie thrillers.
