‘The Treehouse’ Brings Home Invasion Horror Into the Woods

What begins as a secluded retreat high above the forest floor soon descends into something far more unsettling in The Treehouse, a Spanish horror thriller that blends psychological tension, slasher violence and survival horror against the striking backdrop of the Basque countryside. Following a successful festival run, including taking Best International Feature at HorrorFest Utah, the film is now drawing attention with the release of a new trailer showcasing its haunting woodland setting and relentless sense of pursuit.

Written and directed by emerging Spanish filmmaker Luis Calderon, The Treehouse centres on Ale, played by Goya Award nominee Sandra Escacena (Verónica), who returns to the remote treehouse where her boyfriend Jesús died under mysterious circumstances one year earlier. Refusing to accept that his fatal fall was an accident, she becomes convinced that something inhuman inhabits the surrounding forest and sets out to uncover the truth.

Instead, her search turns into a fight for survival.

Set more than 60 feet above the ground in the forests of Zeanuri, the story follows Ale as grief, obsession and fear begin to collide. As the boundary between trauma and reality becomes increasingly uncertain, she discovers that the unseen force she believes claimed Jesús may still be stalking the woods, transforming her investigation into a desperate hunt where every decision carries deadly consequences.

Calderon’s feature has been described as combining elements of home invasion horror with psychological suspense, drawing comparisons to The Night House and You’re Next. While its premise leans into creature horror, the filmmaker has also positioned the film as an exploration of loss, memory and the lingering scars left behind by tragedy.

Escacena returns to the horror genre that launched her career after earning a Goya nomination for Paco Plaza’s Verónica. She is joined by Claudio Portalo, known for La Caza and The Ministry of Time, alongside fellow Goya nominee Kandido Uranga, Apolonia La Piedra and musician Mala Rodríguez.

Principal photography took place across natural locations in Spain’s Basque Country during May 2024, with the forests of Biscay providing the film’s distinctive setting. The production was completed over a 20-day shoot using Arri Alexa Digital 4K cameras, placing the imposing woodland environment at the centre of the story’s escalating tension.

Calderon, who previously gained recognition for his award-winning short Sabbat, founded the production company La Barbería Films before moving into feature filmmaking. Alongside commercial work for major brands and music videos for artists including Macaco, SFDK and Pastora Soler, he has developed a style rooted in dark visual storytelling and genre cinema. The Treehouse marks his feature debut and has already begun establishing the director as one of Spain’s emerging horror voices through its festival appearances.

With its newly released trailer now offering audiences their first extended look at the film’s unsettling world, The Treehouse continues its international rollout following its festival success, with further release details expected to be announced.

The Treehouse trailer