“When the dice drops…heads will roll.”
Cinequest 2026 is about to get a little blood on its character sheets. The horror-comedy short Total Party Kill will have its world premiere in San Jose, California, on March 14, with a second screening set for March 17. Already building a loyal fanbase—complete with original fan art—the film serves as a proof-of-concept for a planned feature-length expansion of its demon-infested campaign.
Directed by Alan Sanchez and written by Sanchez and Michael Smallwood, Total Party Kill follows an all-female tabletop role-playing group whose game night spirals into something far more sinister. According to the official logline: “When an all-female TTRPG group uncovers a sinister demonic presence hidden within one of their game’s miniatures, their fantasy adventure spirals into a terrifying battle for survival—where the stakes are all too real”. The short, which clocks in at just over 16 minutes, blends practical effects with genre-savvy humor.
The cast brings serious nerd and horror cred to the table. Elyse Willems (Funhaus, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Arizona Circle) stars alongside Fayna Sanchez (Abraham’s Boys, House of Ashes, Tenants), Sarah Nicklin (Popeye The Slayerman, V/H/S Halloween), and gaming favorite Gracie Lacey (Avowed). Behind the scenes, Sanchez produces with Christine Celozzi and Fayna Sanchez, with special effects work from industry veterans Brittany Jamison-Lackey and Kenneth Calhoun.
With its teaser promising, “When the dice drops…heads will roll,” Total Party Kill looks ready to crit at Cinequest this March. If the premiere audience survives, expect this party to level up into a feature soon after.
