The Dreadful is a gothic folk horror movie written and directed by Natasha Kermani, reuniting Sophie Turner and Kit Harington in a tense, 15th-century drama of grief, secrets, and a growing curse. The movie centers on Anne (Turner) and her mother-in-law, Morwen (Marcia Gay Harden) who are living on the fringes of society in the midst of the Wars of the Roses; but when a man from Anne’s past comes back to town, his presence sets off a series of supernatural events centered on a cursed knight and a community on the brink.
The movie is a production of Redwire Pictures, Black Magic, and other collaborators, with shooting occurring in the U.K. and Cornwall among the locations identified. The Dreadful is being distributed in select theaters and day-and-date via digital platforms (on demand/VOD and major digital retailers), with a U.S. release date of February 20, 2026.
When and where to stream The Dreadful
Where to Watch: The movie will have a limited theatrical release and a same-day digital release, which means that it will be shown in select theaters and available on major VOD platforms (Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon Prime Video’s storefronts, Fandango/Other VOD platforms) on the same day of its release. The distributor details for the movie are True Brit Entertainment in the U.K. and Lionsgate in the U.S.
Official synopsis (studio/press summary):
The Dreadful is set in the 15th century during the Wars of the Roses. The story revolves around Anne and her mother-in-law, Morwen, who lead a lonely and brutal existence on the fringes of the world. However, with the arrival of a man from their past, a chilling curse in the form of a knight is unleashed.
Cast and characters
The Dreadful has a cast of characters including Sophie Turner as Anne, the main character who struggles with isolation and unexpected events in her life. Kit Harington acts as Jago, the male character from Anne’s past who comes back as a battle-scarred warrior. Marcia Gay Harden acts as Morwen, Anne’s mother-in-law, who also shares their tough life.
Other cast members include Laurence O’Fuarain as Seamus and Catherine McDonough as Kayna, among others. They all help to bring out the historical and horror elements in the movie. Turner and Harington, known from Game of Thrones as siblings, are now playing romantic leads, which was not without some challenges on set given their former relationship. Harden, an Oscar winner, was cast in November 2024, adding experience from a range of genres.
The cast has been assembled to reflect the Gothic atmosphere, with each actor chosen for their ability to deliver strong, period-correct performances. There have been no further cast additions as of early 2026. This cast is one of the ways in which the medieval setting is realized.
The Dreadful: Plot details
The background setting of The Dreadful takes place in medieval England during the War of the Roses. The plot revolves around Anne, a young woman who lives a simple but hard life with her mother-in-law, Morwen, in a distant location far from the city. Their life routine includes basic survival activities, but things go awry when a man from Anne’s past life resurfaces. This man, who is associated with her past, poses threats and secrets that make it difficult for Anne to take proper decisions.
The story develops a sense of tension through the use of Gothic elements such as curses, mystery, and horror, which eventually culminates in a critical point for the protagonist. Without revealing any spoilers, the story delves into the idea of how the past can affect the present and shape the future. The mood of the movie is generated from the use of historical backgrounds to evoke a feeling of terror and fear. The early promotional activities, such as the trailer, include scenes of battles, loneliness, and supernatural occurrences, which highlight the psychological aspect of horror.
Production and release updates
The announcement of the project occurred in early 2024 with Natasha Kermani on board as writer-director and Sophie Turner in the starring and producer capacity, with Kit Harington later joining, allegedly at the recommendation of Turner, with whom he had worked before. The shooting took place in various locations in the U.K., including Cornwall, and entered the post-production stage in 2025.
The distribution agreements include True Brit Entertainment as the U.K. distributor and Lionsgate as the distributor for the U.S. theatrical and digital release. The release plan, as confirmed by the official trailer and press reports, is set for February 20, 2026, with an R rating in the U.S. press reports for violence/bloody images. Further platform details (the VOD platforms and the rental/purchase terms) will likely be posted by the distributors shortly before the release.
Stay tuned for more such updates.
Also Read: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Explained: How the series connects to Game of Thrones
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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