De Havilland Pictures has unveiled the first official images from Mary Shelley’s Christmas Nightmares, the feature debut from filmmaker Johnathon de Havilland. Currently in post-production and slated for a Holiday 2026 release, the project draws heavily from classic Gothic literature and the visual signatures of early Hollywood horror.

Led by Tiffany Webb as Mary Shelley, the film blends influences from Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary E. Braddon, and James Skipp Borlase. The newly released stills reveal ornate period costuming and candlelit interiors that echo the mood of 1930s and ’40s studio genre films. Shot largely inside a preserved 19th-century manor near Louisville, Kentucky, the production makes extensive use of natural candlelight to reinforce its historical atmosphere.

Among the first-look images is a shot of Macy Dame (Pesadilla) as Maria, a young woman stalked by an apparition within the manor’s shadowed halls. The cast also includes Erica Dyer (The Zuri Johnson Story) as Claire, a medium whose composed demeanor becomes increasingly ambiguous, and Timothy Pogue (Unnatural) as Lord Byron, bringing a theatrical presence to the film’s literary setting.

Set on a snowbound Christmas Eve, the story follows Mary Shelley, Claire, Lord Byron, and Percy as they gather to challenge one another to craft the most unsettling ghost story before midnight. As the storm outside intensifies, their tales deepen in tone, reflecting the classic works that inspired the film itself.

Director Johnathon de Havilland describes the project as a tribute to Gothic storytelling traditions across both literature and cinema. More images, behind-the-scenes material, and a teaser trailer are expected to arrive in 2026 as the film approaches release.