Oscar Torre Faces Darkness in ‘Hate Thyself’ Ahead of September Release

The first trailer for Hate Thyself has arrived, offering a haunting preview of a psychological thriller that pairs Oscar Torre with the late horror icon Tony Todd in one of the actor’s final screen performances. Ahead of its digital debut this September, the film promises a dark blend of serial killer mystery and psychological drama, placing faith, trauma and obsession at the centre of an increasingly disturbing investigation.

Studio Dome has released the official trailer for the feature, directed by Shivaan Makker and written by Sullivan McGuffin. Hate Thyself will arrive on digital platforms across the United States and Canada on 1 September, with a limited theatrical rollout also planned.

Oscar Torre, best known for The Haves and the Have Nots, leads the cast as Detective Angelo Matteo, a devout investigator whose beliefs are pushed to breaking point after he and his partner Rufus are assigned to track down a serial killer targeting young men. What begins as a murder investigation steadily becomes something more personal as Angelo’s pursuit of the culprit forces him to confront long-buried emotional wounds that threaten both his sobriety and his marriage.

Inspired in part by the crimes of real-life serial killer Robert Berdella, the film explores how prolonged exposure to violence affects those tasked with pursuing it. As Angelo searches for answers, the distinction between justice and obsession begins to erode, leaving him questioning not only the case before him but his own understanding of morality.

Joining Torre is Tony Todd, whose towering career across horror cinema made him one of the genre’s defining figures through performances in films including Candyman. His appearance in Hate Thyself is likely to attract considerable attention from horror fans following his passing, adding further significance to the film’s release.

The supporting cast includes Happy Anderson, Corin Nemec, Deborah Rennard, Danforth Comins, Vincent Banks, Gary Brunner, Evan Daigle and Christina Urias.

Discussing the project, Makker said the intention was to tell more than a conventional serial killer story, instead examining “the emotional and spiritual toll that evil takes on those who dedicate their lives to fighting it”. Studio Dome acquisitions executive David Josh Lawrence similarly described the film as moving beyond the familiar crime procedural, positioning it as a suspense thriller driven by character and psychological conflict.

Makker is best known for 2 Brothers, Pastiche and Room 203, while screenwriter Sullivan McGuffin has previously collaborated on the same projects. Torre, meanwhile, has built a career across television and film, with credits including Queen of the South, CSI: Miami, NCIS and The Hangover Part III, alongside acclaimed dramatic performances in The Boatman and Libertad.

Hate Thyself will be released in select US cinemas and on digital platforms from 1 September 2026.

Hate Thyself trailer

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