The highly anticipated folk horror film FALLING STARS is set to make its debut on Video on Demand (VOD) and in select U.S. cinemas on Friday, October 11th. Distributed by XYZ Films, the film has already garnered significant attention after its screenings at Locarno Film Festival and Fantastic Fest, where it left audiences gripped by its unique take on the classic witch mythos.

Directed by Richard Karpala and Gabriel Bienczycki, FALLING STARS presents a narrative set in an alternate reality where witches are real, and the night of the first harvest is marked by traditional rituals meant to placate these supernatural beings. The film follows three brothers in the American Southwest who, after learning their friend has killed a witch and buried the body, venture into the desert to see for themselves. Unintentionally, they desecrate the body, unleashing a curse that threatens their family. With time running out, their only hope to break the curse is to burn the witch’s remains before sunrise.

Starring Rene Leech, Shaun Duke Jr., Andrew Gabriel, Diane Worman, and Greg Poppa, FALLING STARS is the feature debut of Karpala and Bienczycki, with Karpala penning the screenplay and Bienczycki handling the film’s cinematography. The film’s world premiere took place on the Piazza Grande at Locarno, followed by screenings at prominent festivals such as Fantastic Fest, Calgary Underground, and Splat! Film Fest.