Jessica Rothe Unravels in Mind-Bending Thriller ‘Affection’

Memory becomes a prison in Affection, a psychological sci-fi horror arriving on digital platforms across the UK and Ireland on 8 June following an acclaimed festival run.

Written and directed by BT Meza, the film stars Happy Death Day breakout Jessica Rothe as Ellie Carter, a woman trapped inside a terrifying cycle of violent seizures that repeatedly erase her memory. Each time Ellie regains consciousness, she finds herself unable to recognise the people around her, including the man claiming to be her husband and the child insisting she is her mother.

As Ellie attempts to piece together fragments of her identity, increasingly disturbing visions begin blurring the line between reality, memory and something potentially far more sinister. According to the official synopsis, she must uncover the truth behind her condition before her mind resets once again.

Rothe leads the film alongside Joseph Cross, known for Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, and Julianna Layne, whose performance as Ellie’s supposed daughter forms a major part of the film’s emotional tension. The project marks the latest genre role for Rothe, who built a strong following through Christopher Landon’s Happy Death Day films before moving into darker and more experimental material, including Boy Kills World.

Affection first gained attention on the festival circuit through screenings at the Overlook Film Festival, FrightFest and Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, where its blend of psychological horror and cerebral science fiction drew strong reactions. Rather than relying on conventional jump scares or large-scale spectacle, Meza’s film appears focused on identity breakdown, paranoia and bodily trauma.

Early responses to the film have singled out Rothe’s central performance, which requires the actor to repeatedly shift between fear, confusion, desperation and physical collapse as Ellie’s condition worsens. The story’s structure also leans heavily into uncertainty, with viewers left questioning which memories, relationships and experiences can actually be trusted.

The premise recalls elements of psychological science fiction favourites such as Possession, Moon, Coherence and Primer, while grounding its stranger ideas within a more intimate domestic setting. Meza reportedly holds back key revelations before pivoting the film in a different direction midway through, expanding the scope of the mystery and pushing further into existential horror territory. Practical effects also feature heavily throughout the production, with prosthetics and physical body horror used to reinforce Ellie’s deteriorating mental and physical state.

Affection will be released on UK and Ireland digital platforms on 8 June 2026.

Affection trailer