SXSW London 25' The Occupant Traps Ella Balinska in a Survival Nightmare

Ella Balinska braves the icy unknown in The Occupant, a chilling descent into isolation and dread.

Frigid Isolation Turns Sinister in Hugo Keijzer’s The Occupant, Premiering at SXSW London

A film we’ve been keeping close tabs on is The Occupant, a chilling survival thriller from director Hugo Keijzer. First mentioned in our SXSW London rundown, the project now drops a teaser that left us frostbitten and hooked.

In The Occupant, Ella Balinska (Charlie’s Angels) stars as Abby, a guilt-ridden engineering geologist who takes a remote job in the Georgian taiga to fund an experimental treatment for her terminally ill sister. But when a mysterious helicopter crash leaves her stranded in the icy wilderness, Abby must fight her way back to civilization—and to her sister—armed with only her survival skills and the distant voice of John (Rob Delaney, Deadpool & Wolverine), an American pilot guiding her over the radio.

At first, John seems like a lifeline. A reassuring presence. Until he isn’t.

What begins as a stark, elemental survival tale slowly unravels into something more sinister—one part psychological descent, one part icy thriller. Think The Grey meets The Shining, layered with themes of guilt, grief, and the lengths we’ll go to for those we love.

The Occupant makes its World Premiere at SXSW London today, June 4, with a second screening set for Friday, June 6. This one’s poised to leave audiences shaken—and frozen.

Stay with us for more updates, reactions, and an early review post-premiere.