THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT Sets February 13 Theatrical Release Ahead of Shudder Debut

Willa Holland faces a long night of demonic terror in the big-screen adaptation of The Mortuary Assistant.

Epic Pictures and Dread are officially bringing one of gaming’s most unsettling nightmares to the big screen. THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT, the feature film adaptation of Brian Clarke’s best-selling horror video game, is set for a nationwide theatrical release on Friday, February 13, 2026, before streaming exclusively on Shudder on March 27, 2026.

Recently named one of IndieWire’s “Buzziest New Nightmares of 2026,” the film has already landed firmly on the radar of horror fans, especially those who spent sleepless nights navigating River Fields Mortuary in the original game. Directed by Jeremiah Kipp (Slapface) and starring Willa Holland (Arrow) and Paul Sparks (Boardwalk Empire), The Mortuary Assistant aims to translate slow-burn dread and psychological terror into a fully immersive theatrical experience.

The story follows newly certified mortician Rebecca Owens (Holland), who takes a night shift job embalming bodies alone after hours. What begins as a routine assignment quickly spirals into a waking nightmare as disturbing events escalate. Rebecca uncovers demonic rituals, the buried secrets of her enigmatic mentor (Sparks), and her own unresolved trauma, all while racing against the clock to survive the night before she becomes a vessel for possession herself.

Originally released on PC in 2022, The Mortuary Assistant became a viral horror hit thanks to its oppressive atmosphere, procedural realism, and deeply unsettling scares. The game’s success led to releases on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, cementing its cult status. The film expands on that foundation, digging deeper into the mythology and lore surrounding the demonic entities haunting River Fields.

Producer Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures, emphasized the team’s commitment to authenticity, noting that the mortuary was built as a full practical set to preserve the game’s claustrophobic tension and grim realism. Clarke, who co-wrote the film alongside Tracee Beebe, echoed that sentiment, calling the adaptation a long-imagined bridge between horror gaming and genre cinema.

Coming from Dread, the label that helped unleash Terrifier onto unsuspecting audiences, expectations are understandably high. The newly released poster and trailer lean hard into dread rather than spectacle, suggesting a film more interested in sustained unease than quick shocks — a smart move given the source material.

With its Valentine’s Day release date, The Mortuary Assistant is positioning itself as counterprogramming at its most sinister. Whether it lives up to the game’s reputation remains to be seen, but this is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about horror releases of the year. We’ll be keeping a close eye on River Fields — and bringing you full coverage as February approaches.