‘Widow’s Bay’ Star’s New Psychological Horror Unveils First Look

Following the success of Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay, actor Kingston Rumi Southwick is taking on a darker story with Henry’s Ebb, an upcoming psychological horror film that has unveiled its first look ahead of its festival premiere.

Written and directed by Thomas Mendolia in his feature directorial debut, the film explores childhood trauma, an imaginary friend, and the frightening consequences of a bond that becomes increasingly controlling. The cast also includes Banks Repeta (The Black Phone), Ashley Shelton, Will Holland, Rebecca Koon, and Austin Willard.

What Is Henry’s Ebb About?

Henry has always admired his best friend Ebb for his fearlessness. Ebb, meanwhile, values Henry’s innocence. There’s just one important detail: Henry created Ebb.

An imaginary companion who has been part of Henry’s life since childhood, Ebb helped him cope with a difficult upbringing marked by his father’s early departure, his grandmother’s death, and a single mother struggling to keep the family together.

But Ebb is far from an ordinary imaginary friend. Protective, manipulative, and fiercely loyal, he has always influenced Henry’s decisions, blurring the line between friendship and control.

When Henry runs away to find the father he barely remembers, Ebb joins him. What begins as an adventure gradually descends into something much darker as the pair travel along the quiet backroads of the American South.

As Henry moves closer to the possibility of a different life, their relationship begins to fracture. Ebb is determined to preserve their bond, regardless of the cost. After all, he was created to keep Henry safe, not to help him grow up.

Drawing inspiration from Stand by Me and Mud while incorporating unsettling psychological elements, Henry’s Ebb is a coming-of-age story about the coping mechanisms we develop in childhood and what happens when the things that once protected us begin to hold us back.

Thomas Mendolia on the Inspiration Behind Henry’s Ebb

The film has a personal connection for Mendolia, who drew inspiration from his own childhood in Elkin, North Carolina. The movie was also filmed in the town, with its real locations playing an important role in the story.

“Elkin exists in my mind as both magical and painful, and that duality felt essential to the story,” Mendolia explained. “I wrote it around real locations from my memory, and knew that shooting here was crucial.”

He continued, “Henry moves through a world that is full of wonder, but also shaped by the complicated lives of the adults around him. Setting the film there allowed those two feelings to coexist in the same space.”

When Will Henry’s Ebb Be Released?

Henry’s Ebb is set to premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in November. An official wider release date has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, Southwick’s appearance in Widow’s Bay comes as the Apple TV horror series continues its success, with a second season already confirmed.

Stay tuned to GoreCulture for more updates on Henry’s Ebb, including its release date and distribution plans.

Are you looking forward to this psychological horror film? Let us know in the comments!