FIRST LOOK: Mary Shelleys Christmas Nightmares Summons Old-Hollywood Horror in Debut Feature From De Havilland Pictures | HNN

De Havilland Pictures has released the first official images from “Mary Shelley’s Christmas Nightmares,” the Gothic horror film marking the feature debut of filmmaker Johnathon de Havilland. Now in post-production and slated for a Holiday 2026 release, the project aims to resurrect the lush, shadow-drenched spirit of classic old-Hollywood horror — and these newly unveiled stills suggest it’s well on its way.

Anchored by Tiffany Webb as Mary Shelley, the film draws heavily from the storytelling traditions and works by Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary E. Braddon, and James Skipp Borlase, weaving their Gothic sensibilities into a single snowbound nightmare. The early images highlight ornate period costuming and candlelit interiors reminiscent of 1930s and ’40s studio fright films.

Shot primarily inside an authentic 19th-century manor near Louisville, Kentucky, the film embraces a practical, atmospheric approach. Natural candlelight provides much of the visual texture. In one of the first-look photos, Macy Dame (“Pesadilla”) — who plays Maria, a young woman haunted by a relentless apparition — appears amid drifting shadows that nod to classic Gothic silhouettes.

The cast also includes Erica Dyer (“The Zuri Johnson Story”) as Claire, a medium whose calm presence becomes increasingly unsettling, and Timothy Pogue (“Unnatural”) as Lord Byron, portrayed with the aristocratic swagger and presence befitting the film’s literary inspirations.

Set on a snow-swept Christmas Eve, the story follows Mary Shelley, Claire, Lord Byron, and Percy as they gather inside the manor to compete in a macabre game: who can craft the most terrifying ghost story before midnight? But as the storm intensifies, their tales — drawn from the very literary greats who inspired the film — become more morose and dreadful as the night wears on.

Director De Havilland describes the film as a love letter to the early masters of Gothic storytelling — on the page and on the screen.

“We wanted to honor the writers who shaped the genre,” he says. “Shelley, Poe, Braddon, Borlase — their works are the backbone of Gothic horror. Pairing their influence with the cinematic style of old Hollywood felt like the perfect marriage. These first-look images capture the classic dread we set out to recreate.”

With its literary foundations, handcrafted aesthetic, and commitment to old-school atmosphere, “Mary Shelley’s Christmas Nightmares” positions itself as one of the most stylistically distinctive indie horror releases on the horizon.

De Havilland Pictures plans to unveil additional images, behind-the-scenes footage, and its first teaser trailer in 2026.