When your dog or cat is staring intently at seemingly nothing in the corner of your home, what if it was actually something supernatural that only they could see… and only they could protect you from? That’s the intriguing (and chilling) question at the heart of Howl at the Dead, the new short film from visionary director Gregg Bishop, the filmmaker behind the unsettling SiREN, the eerily innovative The Other Side, and one of my favorite horror movies of all time, Dance of the Dead.
Following a successful run on the festival circuit (including stops at Screamfest, Fantasia, and Mammoth, where it won Best Genre Short), Howl at the Dead will be making its online premiere on August 26th, which is National Dog Day! Ahead of its streaming premiere, we have a look at the terrifying teaser trailer for Howl at the Dead that offers a glimpse into the supernatural short film that stars the talented canine Delilah Jane “DJ” Sassafras as Paws and Luke Speakman, who can currently be seen on the big screen as Matthew in Zach Cregger’s Weapons!
Be sure to gather your four-legged friends next Tuesday, August 26th at 12:00pm PT for the online premiere of Howl at the Dead, and in the meantime you can watch the teaser trailer below, and we also have the official press release with additional details and eerie insights into the making of the short film:
Press Release: LOS ANGELES, CA, August 18, 2025 – Bishop Studios released the official teaser for HOWL AT THE DEAD, an award-winning horror short from director Gregg Bishop (Dance of the Dead, SiREN, V/H/S 3). The film flips the classic haunted house narrative by telling it through the family pets’ point of view – the only ones who can see the ghosts.
• Watch the teaser (YouTube): https://youtu.be/vv5vjkXXByg
• Online premiere: August 26 at 12:00 PM PT (National Dog Day and the official start of Pumpkin Spice season)
Festival pedigree: HOWL AT THE DEAD had its World Premiere at Screamfest LA in October 2023, followed by selections at Fantasia International Film Festival, PanicFest, Mammoth Film Festival, SoHo Horror Film Festival, Buried Alive, and more. The film won Best Genre Short at Mammoth.
Logline: A haunted house story told from the point of view of the family pets, who are the only ones that can see the ghosts.
Director’s statement (Gregg Bishop):
“After an incredible festival run beginning with our World Premiere at Screamfest in 2023, I’m thrilled to finally share HOWL AT THE DEAD with the world. This film comes straight from my love of movies and the pets I grew up with. Who hasn’t wondered what our animals are staring at when they fix on a dark corner? We had a blast turning that feeling into a full-on haunted house experience from the pets’ point of view.”THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT HOWL AT THE DEAD:
- Inspiration: The idea for HOWL AT THE DEAD was inspired by the director’s childhood pets, who he believed had a sixth sense. This universal notion that pets can see ghosts evolved into a haunted house story from a dog’s perspective. The film blends scares with the deep emotional connections between humans and their pets.
- Production Pivot: After a feature film project fell through at the last minute, the director borrowed film equipment, gathered some friends, and created this short proof-of-concept film instead with no money.
- Working with Animals: Despite the challenges of working with animals, the film succeeded thanks to dog trainer Laura Nativo and DJ, the superstar dog. Understanding that animals can’t “act” but can only show real emotions, the production schedule was crafted around DJ’s emotional needs, ensuring an authentic performance that was crucial to the film’s success.
About the film:
When a family moves into a new home, their loyal dog senses a presence no one else can. As the disturbances escalate, the pets struggle to protect the people they love from the malevolent ghosts only animals can see.
Cast and key credits:
Delilah Jane “DJ” Sassafras as Paws, Luke Speakman (Weapons), Ashley Watkins, Stephen Caudill. Directed by Gregg Bishop. Produced by Bishop Studios.
About Gregg Bishop: Gregg Bishop’s passion for filmmaking began when he found his father’s Super 8mm film camera in the attic at 7 years old and started making scary movies to terrify his sister. After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Gregg directed the SLAMDANCE award-winning feature film THE OTHER SIDE; then followed it up with DANCE OF THE DEAD, which premiered at SXSW and was hand-picked by director SAM RAIMI for distribution through GHOST HOUSE PICTURES and LIONSGATE. He also wrote and directed a segment in the critically acclaimed horror anthology franchise V/H/S before directing SiREN for Chiller Films/UNIVERSAL. COLUMBIA PICTURES bought Gregg’s monster movie spec script LOCKDOWN AT FRANKLIN HIGH which will be produced by MICHAEL BAY. The next feature Gregg is set to direct is a new original horror film from the writers of the HELLRAISER reboot and the producers of FINAL DESTINATION. Gregg’s directing reel can be found at www.GreggBishop.com.
