Alice Maio Mackay Returns with Queer Horror Romance The Serpent’s Skin at Fantasia

Anna and Gen confront inner demons and real monsters in The Serpent’s Skin.

Alice Maio Mackay Sheds The Serpent’s Skin at Fantasia: A Queer Horror Romance That Bites Back

Alice Maio Mackay isn’t slowing down—and with her sixth feature The Serpent’s Skin, she may have just delivered her most vulnerable, badass, and blood-soaked story yet. The film will celebrate its Canadian premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival on July 23 and 25, marking a triumphant return for one of horror’s boldest trans voices.

Produced by genre trailblazers Dark Star Pictures—who’ve been ride-or-die with Mackay since Satranic Panic, T Blockers, Bad Girl Boogey, and Carnage for Christmas—The Serpent’s Skin blends supernatural romance with visceral horror and a neon-soaked visual identity that pulses with Gen-Z angst and queer rage. Think Buffy meets The Craft if they were directed by Gregg Araki and soundtracked by a basement punk show.

At the center of it all is Anna, a trans teen who escapes her small, oppressive hometown in search of community and connection. She finds both in Gen, a goth tattoo artist who quickly becomes more than a friend. But their budding romance gets complicated when the two unknowingly unleash a demon that begins feasting on their inner circle. To fight back, they’ll have to confront not just the supernatural threat—but also their deepest insecurities.

The film stars Alexandra McVicker (Vice Principals), Scott Major (Heartbreak High), Charlotte Chimes (Neighbours), and Jordan Dulieu (Before Dawn), alongside surprise cameos from Fantasia favorites Avalon Fast, Joe Lynch, and Betsey Brown. Emmy-nominated director Vera Drew (The People’s Joker) returns as editor, continuing her collaboration with Mackay after Carnage for Christmas, and Louise Weard (Castration Movie) steps in as producer.

Following its world premiere at Frameline, and with a FrightFest screening on deck this August, The Serpent’s Skin cements Mackay as one of the most exciting voices in queer horror—unafraid to get messy, raw, and real. Dark Star Pictures will bring the film to wider audiences in 2026, and we can’t wait for the chaos to spread.

So mark your Fantasia schedules. The Serpent’s Skin screens July 23 and 25—and this is one spellbinding descent you’ll want to follow all the way down.

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🎟 Fantasia International Film Festival runs July 18–August 4, 2025

🖤 The Serpent’s Skin — Canadian Premiere: July 23 & 25

🎬 Coming 2026 via Dark Star Pictures