Aisling Franciosi, known for her roles in “The Nightingale” and “Last Voyage of the Demeter,” takes the lead in the upcoming horror flick “Stopmotion,” and we’ve got an exclusive sneak peek clip for you this morning.

Scheduled for theatrical release on February 23, followed by a debut on Shudder on May 31, 2024, “Stopmotion” promises a chilling plunge into darkness. Directed by Robert Morgan, the film stars Franciosi as Ella Blake, a stop-motion animator grappling with inner demons following the demise of her controlling mother.

Alone in the world, Ella immerses herself in crafting a sinister new puppet film, which swiftly morphs into a battleground for her fragile sanity. As her mental state deteriorates, the characters within her animated creation take on a horrifying life of their own, unleashing a torrent of imagination that threatens to consume her.

Joining Franciosi in the cast are Stella Gonet and Tom York.

Scott Shooman, head of AMC Networks’ film group, expressed excitement about the film’s release, stating, “IFC and Shudder are ecstatic to bring Robert Morgan’s riveting live-action/animation hybrid to audiences everywhere. ‘Stopmotion’ is excellent as it weaves together a unique, psychological-horror with unbelievable visuals.”

Shooman continued, “The film joins the ranks of critically acclaimed titles such as ‘Mad God’ and ‘The Wolf House’ – breaking ground for how we perceive stop-motion in horror. We are thrilled to distribute Morgan’s first full-length feature for its theatrical release and presence on our streaming platform, Shudder.”

Director Robert Morgan also shared his enthusiasm, remarking, “IFC’s superb back catalogue speaks for itself, and Shudder’s embracing of the weirder and distinctive side of horror cinema means this is the perfect home for my first feature. I’m thrilled to be teaming up with them, and I’m excited to share ‘Stopmotion’ with audiences very soon.”

The screenplay for “Stopmotion” was penned by Robert Morgan and Robin King.