There’s something in the water.

After her friend drowns under mysterious circumstances, a guarded young woman working at an aquarium begins to suspect a shape-shifting force is feeding on the grief her friends refuse to express—one that now has its sights set on her.

Angler is a genre-bending horror drama about love, loss, and the seductive danger of emotional avoidance.

When Logan’s best friend dies suddenly at a summer pool party, she retreats into the cold routine of her aquarium job and shuts out Annie, the one person trying to reach her. But grief, it seems, won’t stay buried.

Unsettling visions begin to ripple through her world—disorienting dreams, flickering lights, and glimpses of a humanoid creature lurking just out of reach. One by one, Logan’s friends begin to unravel, each haunted by illusions of lost loved ones offering comfort... but leaving devastation in their wake.

The entity—known only through fleeting glimpses—preys on suppressed emotion, growing stronger the longer it’s left unacknowledged. To survive, Logan and Annie must confront their pain and choose vulnerability, even when it hurts.

In the vein of Pan’s Labyrinth and The Babadook, Angler fuses practical creature effects with psychological horror to explore how emotional repression isolates us—and how connection might just save us.

WHY ANGLER?

Why this film? Why you? Why now?

Angler is a story about emotional honesty—how repressing grief, love, or fear can turn our silence into something monstrous. It’s about learning to speak before the darkness speaks for you. At its heart, this is a film about connection and vulnerability—but it’s also a love letter to how we make films.

This project is proudly handcrafted. Every creature effect, prop, and environment will be built by real artists—no CGI, no AI, no shortcuts. In a time when so much content feels algorithmic and synthetic, Angler is a return to the kind of filmmaking that moves people: tangible, collaborative, and human. We believe audiences are craving the tactile, the personal, the flawed and beautiful reality of true indie cinema—and we’re here to give it to them.

We’re telling this story now because it speaks to a cultural moment. We’re living in a time defined by isolation, disconnection, and unprocessed collective grief. This film reflects that—but also offers a way through it.

We want Angler to be a lifeline for anyone who’s struggled to speak about what hurts. And we’re inviting you to help us bring it to life.

HOW TO HELP

Where we are & how you can help move the project forward.

We’re ready to shoot.

Our team has already secured key locations, assembled an incredible cast and crew, and developed our production design and FX pipeline. With your support, we’ll move into principal photography this fall (September 2025), followed by post-production through December.

We’re raising $10,000 to fund the practical effects, underwater cinematography, lighting, and camera gear needed to execute our vision with the care and quality it deserves.

Your support will fund:

• A fully practical creature suit by a professional FX artist
• Underwater stunt coordination & safety
• High-end lighting & camera gear to craft our surreal aesthetic
• Production design to transform the aquarium into a haunting battleground
• Post-production and color grading to bring the visual descent to life

Every dollar raised goes directly into making the film. The cast and crew are generously volunteering their time, driven by passion for meaningful, independent cinema.

Stretch Goals (if we exceed 100%):

• $12,000 → Enhanced creature FX + post-production sound design
• $14,000 → Festival travel & submission fees
• $15,000+ → Press kit, original score, and expanded screening opportunities

When will the film be ready?

We aim to premiere Angler in Winter 2026 and submit it to festivals throughout the year. Backers will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content and digital screenings ahead of the public release.

SHARE THE WORD

If you can’t donate, you can still help by sharing! Here's some copy you can use:

? Help bring this horror short to life! Angler is a surreal, emotional creature-feature about grief, connection, and the monsters we become when we shut down. Support the campaign: seedandspark.com/fund/angler

? Something’s lurking in the water… Support Angler, an emotionally rich horror short about repression and connection. Help us reach our goal: seedandspark.com/fund/angler

? If you love Pan’s Labyrinth or The Babadook, check out Angler—a stunning new short film blending practical effects with psychological horror. Back the project: seedandspark.com/fund/angler

REWARDS

Depending on your pledge level, you’ll receive:

• Custom limited-edition Angler merch (stickers, pins, shirts & more)
• Early digital screening access
• Exclusive behind-the-scenes content
• An invitation to the set of the film in Savannah, Georgia
• Personalized production updates from the director

Whether you donate $10 or $1,000, your support brings this story to life.

Let’s build a film—and a community—that believes in horror with heart.

Thank you for joining us.