A24 releases first trailer for Jeremy Saulnier’s horror thriller Slayground

A24 has unveiled the first trailer for Slayground, director Jeremy Saulnier‘s horror-action thriller previously titled October, after debuting the teaser in cinemas ahead of Resident Evil screenings this past weekend.

TL;DR

• A24 dropped the first trailer for Slayground, Saulnier’s horror-action thriller formerly called October.
• The teaser is styled as security-cam footage from a haunted Halloween attraction and points viewers to the site runlikehell.com.
• The cast includes Imogen Poots, Cory Michael Smith, Chase Sui Wonders, Sophie Wilde and Stephen Root.
• A countdown on the film’s viral website points to 20 October 2026, though A24 has confirmed only a “fall” release.

What the Slayground trailer shows

The teaser plays like an advertisement for a real haunted house rather than a movie trailer. It cuts between security-camera angles of terrified patrons, masked men carrying axes, and rooms filled with disturbing props, according to Bloody Disgusting. It closes on the line “A24 invites you to an experience you’ll never forget” before directing viewers to runlikehell.com, a companion site carrying more security-cam clips and a countdown clock.

The red-band teaser first played theatrically attached to screenings of Resident Evil, according to The Wrap, which reported that it closed with only a “this fall” release window.

From October to Slayground: the title change

The film was originally announced under the title October. A24 changed the name to Slayground — taken from the haunted attraction where the lead character works — after deciding not to hold the release for the month of October itself, according to Bloody Disgusting.

Plot details remain largely under wraps. Early reporting described the project as a Halloween-set “fugitive thriller,” and World of Reel has said the story follows Smith’s character as the prime suspect in a mass murder tied to the attraction.

Reported runtime: two and a half hours
Source: World of Reel, citing an internal screening

The same report says the score comes from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, longtime collaborators of David Fincher.

Who stars in Slayground

Saulnier wrote and directs from his own script. The cast includes Imogen Poots — who also starred in Saulnier’s Green Room — alongside James Badge Dale, Matty Matheson, Smith, Chase Sui Wonders, Sophie Wilde, Young Mazino and Stephen Root. Producers include Eli Bush and Rich Peete, with Saulnier producing through his Niteowl Films banner alongside Skei Saulnier.

Saulnier previously worked with A24 on 2015’s Green Room before moving to Netflix for 2024’s Rebel Ridge.

Is there a UK release date for Slayground?

A24 has not confirmed a UK theatrical release date, distributor or BBFC classification for Slayground. The only public timing signal so far is the countdown on the film’s viral site, which runs to 20 October 2026, though it’s unclear whether that marks a release, a full trailer, or another marketing beat.