The new Lionsgate digital release turns a young woman’s dream of independence into a bloody encounter with ancient vampires.
Moving away from home is supposed to be an exciting adventure, particularly when your new address happens to be in the Hollywood Hills. But in The Teenage Vampire, an 18-year-old woman discovers that her attractive new living arrangements come with a rather unpleasant complication: her landlords are vampires, and they have some decidedly unfriendly plans for her houseguests.
Directed by Frank Mora, who co-wrote the screenplay with Asif Akbar, the R-rated horror thriller arrives on digital platforms and video on demand October 27, 2026, through Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment Group. The 85-minute film stars Jazlyn Nicolette Sward as Sandra, a recent high-school graduate whose dreams of romance, parties and independence quickly give way to a struggle for survival.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Sandra moves into a stylish guest house in the Hollywood Hills, expecting the freedom that comes with starting a new chapter in her life. Her new landlord, Viktor (James Chalke), initially seems friendly enough, although his tendency to avoid daylight should probably raise a few questions. Unfortunately, Sandra doesn’t realize that Viktor and his partner, Isabelle (Spice Williams-Crosby), are ancient vampires. Nor does she understand that the surrounding neighborhood may harbor more members of the undead. Things take a particularly ugly turn when Sandra decides to throw a party. What should have been an evening of teenage celebration becomes a massacre as the vampires reveal their true intentions.
The film’s trailer also suggests that Sandra’s arrival may not be entirely coincidental. She discovers old photographs featuring a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to her, raising the possibility that Viktor’s interest in his new tenant goes considerably deeper than collecting the rent. Exactly how Sandra fits into the vampires’ history remains one of the film’s central mysteries.
Familiar Faces Among the Undead
The cast includes Kelly Lynn Reiter as Beth, Courtney Akbar as Lisa, Luke Gregory Crosby as Jordon and Michael Cervantes. Horror and science-fiction fans may recognize Spice Williams-Crosby from her appearance as Vixis, the Klingon warrior in 1989’s Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Her other screen work includes stunt performances and action-oriented roles across film and television. James Chalke, who portrays Viktor, has appeared in genre productions including Don’t Kill It and Dead Trigger, while Reiter’s credits include Deadlock and Guns Up.
Although The Teenage Vampire is receiving its digital premiere in 2026, the production dates back to 2022. Its release follows the September debut of a trailer emphasizing the contrast between Sandra’s seemingly glamorous new surroundings and the bloody supernatural nightmare awaiting her.
The premise also recalls a familiar tradition in vampire movies, from Fright Night to The Lost Boys: young people discovering that the apparently ordinary adults or neighbors around them are hiding something monstrous. In Sandra’s case, however, the vampires aren’t simply living next door. They’re the people who own her home.
The Teenage Vampire will be available to rent for a suggested price of $5.99 or purchase digitally for $9.99 beginning October 27. The film is rated R for language, sexual references, teenage drug and alcohol use, and some bloody images.