Dark Star Pictures has acquired U.S. distribution rights to What Happened to Dorothy Bell?, an upcoming found footage horror film that had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2024. The distributor is currently planning an October 2025 release.
Written and directed by Danny Villanueva Jr., the film follows Ozzie Gray (Asya Meadows), a young woman confronting her own mental health struggles. As Ozzie begins to unpack her trauma, she uncovers unsettling truths about a violent incident from her childhood—when her grandmother, Dorothy Bell, attacked her under mysterious circumstances. Her investigation leads her back to a haunted library in her hometown, long tied to a sinister urban legend. There, Ozzie must face buried secrets and an unnerving supernatural presence.
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is a genre-defying exploration of generational trauma, mental illness, and the ways families conceal pain in the name of protection. Villanueva Jr. uses an inventive mix of found footage formats – video diaries, security camera footage, and vintage camcorder tapes – to create an atmosphere of disorientation and dread.
The film features a standout cast of horror veterans, including Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 & 5) and Michael Hargrove (Candyman, dir. Nia DaCosta). Rounding out the cast are Asya Meadows, Arlene Armone Bibbs and Steven Alonte.
“What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is a bold and unsettling vision that pushes the boundaries of found footage horror,” says Dark Star president Michael Repsch. “Danny Villanueva Jr. masterfully blends psychological depth with supernatural terror, crafting a story that resonates long after the credits roll.”
