Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American rights to $POSITIONS, the feature debut from writer and director Brandon Daley which The film premiered at SXSW ’25 and Fantasia ’25. The film opened in Alamo Drafthouse Theaters earlier this year, and is on Digital and On-Demand on May 12th, 2026 from Dark Star Pictures. HorrorBuzz is debuting an exclusive clip from the film.

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Upon arrival the film drew attention for its blend of dark comedy and psychological tension. $POSITIONS follows a Midwestern working-class man who attempts to pull his family out of financial hardship by investing in cryptocurrency. As his obsession with speculative investing escalates, the situation spirals into addiction and personal collapse.

The cast includes Michael Kunicki, Vinny Kress, Trevor Dawkins, and Kaylyn Carter. The project also marks the first leading role for Chicago-based actor Vinny Kress, who has Down syndrome. Producers include Jake Bloom and Ben Gojer, with executive producers Eddie Linker, Steve Lanus, and Amar Gupta.

In a statement, Daley described the film as “a story about hope in the face of hopelessness,” adding that the partnership with Dark Star Pictures felt like the right fit for the project’s tone and approach. Michael Repsch, President of Dark Star Pictures, noted that the film explores the emotional side of cryptocurrency culture through a fictional lens that has rarely been addressed in genre filmmaking.

Matt Zoller Seitz, writing for RogerEbert.com, compared the film’s escalating tension to the work of the Safdie Brothers while highlighting its comedic elements and commentary on contemporary American life.

Dark Star Pictures will release $POSITIONS on Digital and On-Demand on May 12th, 2026