In 2026, horror belongs to the online creators. While Danny and Michael Philippou have led the charge over the last few years with back-to-back horror hits in Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, this year has seen YouTube giant Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach, The Backrooms creator Kane Parsons, and that's a bad idea channel co-creator Curry Barker launch their theatrical filmmaking careers with massive success. Another director whose origins trace back to the online video-sharing platform is now about to get his chance to shine with a disturbing, yet darkly hilarious film that's earned high marks on the festival circuit. At its center is a Glee star in her chilling first turn as a horror lead.
Independent Film Company and Shudder are bringing Breeder, the sophomore feature of writer-director and JouleThief YouTube channel creator Alex Goyette, to theaters tomorrow. It stars Daniel Doheny as Russell, a broke college student desperate for research funding, who's offered an opportunity with an eccentric, highly-regarded poodle breeder named Patti, played by Dot-Marie Jones. To receive the money he needs, he heads out to her remote ranch for work, but the "project" she needs help with has nothing to do with miniature poodles. She's moving on to breeding humans, and Russell needs to be a good stud, or else he'll be put down. Ahead of its release, Collider can exclusively share a sneak peek that shows the emotional manipulation at play in a group therapy session that teases both sides of the villain.
The footage opens on Patti sitting with her adoptive "daughters" in a room that looks more like a stable. Her attention is focused on Yara (Lillian Doucet-Roche), who was evidently abandoned by her mother. Patti continues to push Yara, asking her over and over again to say exactly what she wanted to ask her mom, only with more force in every utterance. Her aggression ultimately pushes the young woman to break down, screaming "Why did you leave me?" at the top of her lungs before crying and leaning into her caretaker. Suddenly, the poodle breeder's softer side comes out as she comforts Yara, assuring her that it's good and cleansing to cry. The way each of the women act and the room they're all kept in, however, hints that Patti's kindness is the same as that she gives to her poodles and all serves a purpose in her twisted breeding project.
'Breeder' Lets Dot-Marie Jones Shine as a Horror Villain
Jones was nominated for three Emmys during her time as Glee's Coach Beiste, earning widespread recognition for a role that let her show off both her singing chops and emotional range. In the eyes of critics, though, Patti is another tour de force from the actress. Breeder currently has a strong 92% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes since its Tribeca Film Festival premiere, with most citing Jones as the standout for her ability to swing from warm to cold, calculating, and violent. She, Doheny, and Doucet-Roche are also joined in the weird and freaky feature by Maddie Phillips, Tanaya Beatty, and Paige McGarvin.
Breeder arrives in theaters on October 28 and will appear on Shudder after a limited release. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.
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