‘The Killing Moon’ Brings Seduction and Suspicion to Raindance

A wounded stranger arriving at the door of an isolated luxury retreat is the spark that sets The Killing Moon ablaze, with director Daniel Bogran’s psychological thriller heading to the 2026 Raindance Film Festival for its international premiere. Blending suspense, seduction and shifting power dynamics, the film has already begun attracting attention on the festival circuit, arriving in London with award nominations and fresh acclaim behind it.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of a secluded mountainside getaway, The Killing Moon centres on affluent couple Olivia and Elliott, played by Victoria Diamond and Ryan Caraway. Their tranquil escape is abruptly interrupted when Rory, portrayed by Matthew Leone, appears injured and in need of help. What follows is a tense and increasingly volatile battle for control as attraction, suspicion and resentment begin to surface.

For Bogran, bringing the project to Raindance represents the culmination of a long and determined journey. The filmmaker revealed that he previously received offers to sell the screenplay but chose not to proceed when it became clear another director would be attached. Instead, he committed to making the film independently, assembling a small team and shooting the project in Telluride.

That gamble has already paid dividends. The Killing Moon earned Bogran the Best Director award at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival and has now secured a nomination for Best Debut Director at Raindance.

Bogran’s background includes studies at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Vassar College before relocating to Los Angeles. His short film LOW screened at multiple festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival, while the screenplay for The Killing Moon received Black List Recommended status prior to production.

The cast arrives with notable credentials of its own. Matthew Leone earned widespread recognition for his performance in God’s Waiting Room, which won him Best Actor at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. He has since appeared in Orange Is the New Black and the recent feature Atonement, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year. His work in The Killing Moon has earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Debut Feature at Raindance.

Victoria Diamond brings experience across film, television, theatre and dance, having won a Gemini Award in 2019 for her role in the Quebec television series Nomades. Meanwhile, Ryan Caraway recently appeared in Sundance winner East of Wall alongside Jennifer Ehle and Scoot McNairy, as well as the action thriller Absolution starring Liam Neeson and Ron Perlman.

As Raindance prepares to welcome filmmakers and audiences from around the world, The Killing Moon arrives as one of the festival’s intriguing independent discoveries. With its contained setting, morally complex characters and steadily escalating tension, the film promises a psychological battle where every act of kindness comes with consequences.

The Killing Moon will make its international premiere at the Raindance Film Festival on 21 June at 1pm. For more information and tickets to see it, visit: raindance.eventive.org/films/the-killing-moon

The Killing Moon trailer