Screamfest has announced its 2026 opening night selection: The Night Driver, a road thriller executive produced by Sean S. Cunningham. The producer and director, known for the original Friday the 13th, joins a production team that includes Rene Besson, Matthew Helderman, and Grady Craig as executive producers. Andre Relis, Jib Polhemus, and Jessica Russo are credited as producers.
The film is set to receive its world premiere on October 6 at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre, kicking off the festival’s run through October 15. The story follows a driver named Hurdis whose passenger turns violent, attacks him, and disappears. The passenger later resurfaces as Hurdis’s shadow, framing him for a series of killings and stalking him across the country.
Back home, Hurdis’s wife Cheryl, played by Alyssa Milano, seeks help from Detective Hank Granger, portrayed by David Arquette. Meanwhile, the FBI closes in on Hurdis as its prime suspect.
Director Weiss reportedly called Cunningham’s participation a dream come true for a first-time feature director. The Night Driver wrapped production in Las Cruces, New Mexico, last September. The film arrives at Screamfest through sales company VMI, with financing provided by Bondit Media Capital. No distributor or wide release date has been announced yet.