‘Carry the Darkness’ Revives the Satanic Panic in Supernatural Thriller

The paranoia of America’s Satanic Panic era collides with supernatural terror in Carry the Darkness, a coming-of-age horror thriller arriving on BloodStream this week before expanding to digital platforms later this year. Written, directed and produced by Douglas Forrester, the independent feature combines small-town mystery, supernatural horror and 1990s nostalgia in a story where fear proves every bit as dangerous as the evil lurking in the shadows.

The Horror Collective and BloodStream have confirmed that Carry the Darkness will make its exclusive streaming debut on BloodStream from 14 August, with a wider rollout to follow through The Horror Collective across digital, Blu-ray and streaming services.

Set in 1993, the film centres on Travis Baldwin, played by Joel Meyers, a misunderstood teenage metal fan living at the height of the moral hysteria surrounding the Satanic Panic. When a mysterious entity begins committing horrific acts around his hometown, Travis quickly becomes the prime suspect. Forced to evade suspicion while uncovering the truth behind the killings, he must protect both himself and his friends before fear and misinformation consume the community.

Rather than focusing solely on supernatural spectacle, Carry the Darkness draws inspiration from the cultural climate of the early 1990s. Forrester has cited influences ranging from The X-Files, Twin Peaks and The Fugitive to the real-life events explored in Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, using that backdrop to examine how rumour and public anxiety can distort reality.

Alongside Meyers, the cast includes Jaden Gant, Helen Laser, Hollis Fox, Autumn Breaud and David Boldt, with an original score composed by Travis Bacon. The production was also produced by James Sharpe and Shanaz Sanjana, with David James Schultz serving as director of photography and Brenna Morlock co-editing and colour grading the feature.

The film has already attracted positive responses during its festival run. Daily Grindhouse described it as “effectively spooky and a pointed examination of what it’s like to be an adolescent outsider in a time of societal turmoil”, while Horror Movies Uncut praised its decision to avoid sensationalising its subject matter in favour of exploring the consequences of fear and prejudice. Media Mikes also highlighted its evocation of Stephen King-style coming-of-age horror, noting its focus on teenage outsiders confronting both literal and figurative monsters.

Forrester said the film balances supernatural thrills with a more personal story.

“The film draws as much from the defining film and television of the early 1990s as it does from the era’s unsettling non-fiction,” he said. “At its core, Carry the Darkness explores the terrifying yet familiar collision of teenage isolation and societal panic. My goal was to create an ominous thriller with a big beating heart at its core.”

Shaked Berenson of The Horror Collective added that the film “reinvents the small-town horror genre” through its blend of haunting imagery and period setting.

Carry the Darkness will premiere exclusively on BloodStream from 14 August 2026 before becoming available to rent or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, DirecTV and Vimeo from 8 September. A Blu-ray edition featuring audio commentary and deleted scenes will also be released on 8 September, ahead of a wider streaming rollout beginning 1 December 2026.

Carry the Darkness trailer

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