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Vertical Sets 'Family' for September 2026 Release After SXSW Premiere

Dread Central reports that the SXSW horror film 'Family' is finally getting a release date, set for VOD and Digital on September 25, 2026.

Official press or product image. Vertical Entertainment / published source image
Watch the trailer on Vertical · YouTube

Dread Central has reported that Vertical has set a release date for the horror film Family, bringing a long-awaited conclusion to the production’s post-festival journey. The distributor has scheduled the film for release on VOD and Digital platforms on September 25, 2026. The announcement confirms the specific digital window for the title. This scheduling marks the official start of the film’s commercial availability.

The trailer for Family is described as being loaded with unsettling imagery. According to the report, the footage ends on one particularly great scare, offering a glimpse into the film’s tonal approach. The source describes the trailer as containing all sorts of unsettling imagery. The final scare is highlighted as a particularly great moment in the footage.

Family was written and directed by Benjamin Finkel in his feature debut. The film had its world premiere in the Midnighter section of the SXSW Film Festival in March 2024. During that festival run, the film won the Kickstarter NextGen Award, marking a notable achievement for Finkel’s first feature project. The award recognition added to the film’s profile within the horror community at the time of its debut. The Kickstarter NextGen Award was won during the festival’s March 2024 run. This recognition occurred at the same time as the world premiere in the Midnighter section.

The narrative centers on a 10-year-old girl who begins to believe her parents are trying to kill her. The parents are portrayed by Ruth Wilson and Ben Chaplin. Convinced that a sinister spirit is to blame for the perceived threat, the girl spirals into a haunting fantasy world. This alternate reality mirrors her deepest fears, creating a psychological backdrop for the horror elements presented in the film. The girl’s belief that her parents are trying to kill her drives the central conflict. The haunting fantasy world serves as a mirror for her deepest fears.

The release date of September 25, 2026, comes after more than two years since the film’s premiere. Dread Central notes that Family is considered one of the more disturbing horror films out of the 2024 SXSW Film Festival. The film is characterized as one of the more disturbing horror films from the 2024 SXSW Film Festival. The release follows a period of more than two years since its initial premiere.

The report does not provide details on theatrical distribution or physical media formats beyond the specified VOD and Digital release. The focus remains on the digital availability for consumers. The trailer serves as the primary promotional material referenced in the announcement, highlighting the film’s visual style and key cast members. No additional production details or behind-the-scenes information were included in the source material.

This development allows horror audiences to access the film through standard digital platforms. The combination of the award-winning festival debut and the newly confirmed release date completes the current public information regarding the film’s availability.