Imagine securing your perfect home only to discover it's ground zero for an apocalyptic conflict between hellish creatures and an authoritarian Homeowners Association.
This nightmarish premise drives the debut trailer for Hold the Fort, an innovative horror comedy making its world premiere at the 2025 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal this month.
Under William Bagley's direction (The Murder Podcast), Hold the Fort chronicles Lucas and Jenny, newlyweds whose homeownership euphoria rapidly transforms into absolute dread upon learning their peaceful suburban enclave harbors a disturbing reality—specifically, "an ongoing war between their Homeowners Association and relentless demonic entities from the underworld."
The production appears to blend The 'Burbs' paranoid suburbia with Army of Darkness' supernatural mayhem, featuring diverse monstrous threats invading residential territory while the HOA maintains its authoritarian grip over neighborhood governance.
The official synopsis reads: "Lucas and Jenny believe their lives are achieving perfect harmony as they transition into homeownership. Unfortunately, their new residence includes significant complications.
"Lucas and Jenny quickly discover themselves fighting for survival when they become caught between their Homeowners Association's territorial demands and devastating supernatural invasion forces. This horror-comedy addresses contemporary homeownership anxieties while delivering an exhilarating action-driven entertainment experience."
Bagley expresses enthusiasm about presenting his latest horror-comedy at Fantasia, describing the premiere as achieving a personal ambition: "Screening at Fantasia has remained my objective since The Murder Podcast, and finally receiving this opportunity represents a fulfilled dream!"
The cast features Chris Mayers, Haley Leary, Julian Smith, Mark Ashworth, and Levi Burdick, adapting Scott Hawkins' original story concept.
Blue Finch Films will distribute Hold the Fort sometime during the current year. While no comprehensive release schedule has been announced, the project promises a chaotic carnival of gore, administrative red tape, and suburban monster elimination.
This unique genre combination suggests Hold the Fort could capitalize on both contemporary housing market frustrations and classic creature feature thrills, potentially resonating with audiences experiencing real-world HOA conflicts alongside their appetite for supernatural entertainment.