INSPIRED BY CROATOAN, THE ONLY CLUE LEFT BEHIND IN ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST ENDURING UNSOLVED MYSTERIES
THE TOWN THAT TAKES
Bringing the Enduring American Legend of CROATOAN to the Big Screen
IN SELECT THEATERS JULY 10, 2026
Atlas Distribution Company has acquired festival favorite THE TOWN THAT TAKES and announced today that it will release the suspense-filled supernatural horror thriller in select theaters across the top 20 North America markets, on Friday, July 10, 2026. Inspired by CROATOAN, the only clue left behind following the disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the film transforms one of America’s most enduring unsolved mysteries into a chilling blend of Southern Gothic atmosphere, investigative suspense, and supernatural terror.
THE TOWN THAT TAKES stars Miles Mussenden (Doom Patrol, Cloak & Dagger), Mike Markoff (Hit Man), Grace Patterson (Slotherhouse), and Britt Bankhead (Insane Like Me). Directed by Bankhead from a screenplay by Bankhead and Jon Blaze, the film is executive produced by Bankhead and Patterson.
For generations, historians, researchers, authors, and paranormal enthusiasts have searched for answers surrounding the disappearance of the Roanoke colonists. With no definitive explanation ever discovered, the event remains one of the most debated mysteries in American history. The only clue left behind was a single word:
CROATOAN.
Now, THE TOWN THAT TAKES imagines a terrifying answer.
“This is the kind of film that reminds you why summer belongs in a theater,” said Harmon Kaslow, President of Atlas Distribution Company. “Britt Bankhead took one of the oldest unsolved mysteries in American history and built a supernatural thriller that gets under your skin and stays there. It is genuinely frightening, it is smart, and it delivers the kind of edge-of-your-seat dread that audiences will want to experience together on the big screen. We are proud to bring it to theaters.”
Blending edge-of-your-seat suspense, supernatural terror, and emotional family drama, the film follows Dean Richardson, a troubled Army veteran attempting to rebuild a relationship with his estranged twelve-year-old son, Wyatt, following the sudden death of his ex-wife.
Their journey takes a terrifying turn when they stop in a remote backwoods’ town haunted by whispers surrounding the word CROATOAN. After a brutal murder leaves Dean as the prime suspect and Wyatt suddenly disappears, he is forced into an uneasy alliance with veteran Detective Douglas O’Shea and rookie Detective St. Clair as a series of unexplained deaths, disappearances, and impossible encounters begin spreading throughout the region.
As evidence points toward something far older and more sinister than a simple murder investigation, Dean races to uncover the truth behind the legend before an ancient evil claims another victim.
The deal was negotiated by Britt Bankhead on behalf of the filmmakers, with Harmon Kaslow representing Atlas Distribution Company.
Film Synopsis: Dean Richardson, a troubled Army veteran living alone in Georgia, travels to North Carolina following the sudden death of his ex-wife. After the funeral, he brings his estranged twelve-year-old son, Wyatt, home with him in hopes of rebuilding their fractured relationship.
Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they stop in a small backwoods’ town haunted by whispers surrounding the mysterious word “CROATOAN.” After encountering unsettling locals and witnessing increasingly strange events, Dean finds himself caught in a growing nightmare when a motel clerk is found brutally murdered and he becomes the prime suspect.
As veteran Detective Douglas O’Shea and rookie Detective St. Clair investigate a series of unexplained deaths connected to the area, evidence begins pointing to something far more sinister than a simple murder case. Reports of impossible attacks, missing persons, and strange encounters spread throughout the county while Wyatt suddenly disappears.
Forced into an uneasy alliance with O’Shea, Dean races to find his son and uncover the truth behind the legend of CROATOAN before an ancient evil claims another victim.
ABOUT ATLAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
Atlas Distribution Company is a leading independent U.S. film distributor having theatrically released more than 50 titles. Atlas leverages CinemaCloudWorks, a proprietary technology platform offering independent filmmakers access to studio-level tools and analytics to help ensure a successful theatrical release. CinemaCloudWorks has empowered over 1,200 films since its launch. For more information about Atlas Distribution Company please visit: https://atlasdistribution.com/
