Fresh off her commanding presence in House of the Dragon, British actress Olivia Cooke is sinking her teeth into a new role — quite literally. As reported by Deadline, Cooke has been cast as the lead in Brides, an upcoming vampire horror film set in the 1960s. The film promises a gothic atmosphere, psychological tension, and a touch of bloodlust — making it one of the more intriguing genre offerings currently in production.
A Chilling Romance in a Remote Italian Villa
Brides centers on Sally Bishop (Cooke), a young woman who travels with her husband to a remote villa in Italy. But this isn’t just a romantic European getaway. The estate is owned by a mysterious count who quickly becomes fascinated with Sally, setting off a chain of eerie and potentially supernatural events.
The setup taps into classic vampire cinema tropes — think The Night Stalker meets Suspiria — with its isolated locale, aristocratic menace, and an unsuspecting heroine caught in something far older and darker than she realizes. And if the title Brides evokes images of Dracula’s seductive companions, it’s likely no coincidence.
Behind the Camera: Chloe Okuno Directs
The film will be directed by Chloe Okuno, whose breakout feature Watcher (2022) earned acclaim for its Hitchcockian restraint and psychological dread. That film also starred Maika Monroe, who was originally cast in Brides before stepping down due to scheduling conflicts. Cooke replaces Monroe, and her casting arguably shifts the film’s tone — bringing with her an intensity that’s more brooding than breathless.
Okuno’s approach to horror tends to lean toward the slow burn, focusing on atmosphere, female paranoia, and existential threat — all elements that align perfectly with a vampire narrative set against the faded glamour of 1960s Europe.
NEON’s Dark Touch
Backing the project is NEON, the daring studio that brought genre-adjacent masterpieces like Parasite (2019), Titane (2021), and this year’s Palme d’Or winner Anora (2024) to international acclaim. Their track record suggests Brides won’t be just another gothic throwback — it will likely have teeth, both narratively and visually.
Olivia Cooke’s Rising Star
For Cooke, Brides is one of several major roles lined up. In addition to returning as Alicent Hightower in HBO’s House of the Dragon, she’ll soon appear in the psychological thriller Switzerland, starring opposite Helen Mirren. That film, based on the Joanna Murray-Smith play, sees Mirren portraying a reclusive author drawn back into her literary legacy by an unexpected visitor — with Cooke in a still-undisclosed role.
She’s also set to appear in The Girlfriend, an Amazon Studios series described as a domestic thriller about a mother (Robin Wright) growing suspicious of her son’s mysterious new partner. With The Girlfriend having just wrapped filming, Cooke’s star continues to rise across genres — but Brides may mark her boldest step into horror yet.
Vampires, Brides, and the Allure of the Unknown
What makes Brides so compelling — aside from its cast and pedigree — is the genre’s enduring fascination with brides, blood, and the uncanny. From the hypnotic women of Dracula’s castle to the haunted marriage beds of Crimson Peak, horror has long been drawn to the figure of the bride as both innocent and initiator, victim and vessel.
With its retro setting and modern psychological lens, Brides could offer a fresh perspective on the myth — not just as a vampire film, but as a commentary on femininity, seduction, and the cost of surrender.