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Best known for her role as Karen Page in Marvel’s Daredevil, Deborah Ann Woll is stepping into the world of supernatural horror with The Cycle, an upcoming thriller from director Jordan Downey. The newly released trailer promises a chilling combination of gruesome murders, mysterious disappearances and terrifying supernatural encounters.
Set to premiere on Shudder on October 23, 2026, The Cycle follows a forensic anthropologist whose professional investigation takes a deeply personal turn when her estranged father’s body is discovered more than three decades after his disappearance.
The film’s official synopsis reads: “When the body of a man missing for thirty-six years is discovered at the scene of a horrific crime, it’s up to his estranged daughter to unravel his dark past.”
Woll stars as Meg, a forensic anthropologist who becomes involved in a disturbing murder investigation after learning that her missing father is among the victims. What initially appears to be a horrific crime soon develops into something far more sinister, with the investigation uncovering unsettling secrets and seemingly supernatural forces.
The newly released trailer opens with Meg waking up in an isolated wooden house surrounded by a dark forest. After hearing a mysterious noise, she grabs a shotgun and ventures into the night, only to encounter something that leaves her visibly terrified.
The unsettling footage then introduces Meg’s father, who ominously warns, “It’s coming for me.”
As the trailer progresses, viewers learn that three people have been brutally murdered in a nearby town, with Meg’s father among the victims. Having been missing for 36 years, his sudden reappearance raises numerous questions, prompting Meg to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
However, the deeper she digs into the case, the more disturbing the discoveries become. With eerie imagery, grisly violence and unexplained occurrences, the trailer suggests that Meg’s investigation will take her into terrifying territory well beyond a conventional murder mystery.
Directed by Jordan Downey, who previously helmed The Head Hunter and contributed to V/H/S/Beyond, the film brings together a cast led by Woll, alongside Jeffrey Donovan, Will Hochman, Jack Doolan and Carl W. Crudup. The supporting cast also includes Gretchen Corbett, Phillip Andre Botello, Dana Millican and Jeb Berrier.
Downey’s experience in horror filmmaking, particularly his work with practical effects, brings another intriguing dimension to the project. The trailer offers glimpses of disturbing imagery and gruesome encounters, suggesting that The Cycle will deliver plenty of unsettling moments for horror enthusiasts.
For Woll, the film represents another opportunity to explore darker material following her memorable performances in Daredevil and HBO’s supernatural drama True Blood. Her portrayal of Meg places her at the centre of a story that combines a disturbing criminal investigation with the emotional complexities of confronting a family tragedy.
The Cycle has already attracted attention ahead of its streaming debut, including an early endorsement from legendary horror author Stephen King, who praised the film and encouraged horror fans to add it to their watchlists.
With a runtime of 111 minutes, the film is shaping up to be an intriguing addition to Shudder’s 2026 horror lineup. Its combination of a mysterious disappearance, brutal murders and supernatural horror could offer audiences a particularly unsettling viewing experience.
The Cycle will begin streaming exclusively on Shudder on October 23, 2026.
