How far would you go to save your child? That’s the unsettling question at the heart of Child, the upcoming psychological horror from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Cyrus Neshvad.
Cynefilms has announced that Child will arrive in UK cinemas from 2 October 2026, bringing a dark mystery of desperation, grief and impossible choices to the big screen.
The feature debut from Neshvad, Child follows parents Anne and Greg as they face every parent’s worst nightmare: their young son is running out of time.
Desperate to save him, the couple are prepared to sacrifice everything for one final chance. But after crossing an unforgivable moral line, they find themselves trapped in a terrifying nightmare where every decision comes with an even greater price.
The film’s unsettling premise sets the stage for a tense psychological thriller that explores just how far love can push someone – and what happens when desperation takes control.
Rather than offering easy answers, Child places its characters in an increasingly disturbing situation, asking audiences to consider the boundaries they might cross to protect the people they love.
From The Red Suitcase to Child
Child marks the first feature film from Cyrus Neshvad, who previously earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film in 2023 for The Red Suitcase.
That acclaimed short follows a teenage Iranian girl attempting to escape an arranged marriage and established Neshvad as a filmmaker capable of creating tense, emotionally charged stories.
With Child, the director expands that approach into a feature-length psychological horror, combining family drama with mystery, suspense and darker genre elements.
Child Premiered at Raindance
The film made its world premiere at the 2026 Raindance Film Festival in the First Feature strand and was nominated for the Discovery Award for Best Debut Feature.
The Raindance Discovery Award celebrates debut filmmakers and highlights distinctive independent filmmaking, making the nomination a notable early milestone for Neshvad’s first feature.
Early reviews have also praised the film’s unsettling atmosphere and its focus on grief, love and desperation.
Filmhounds Magazine awarded Child four stars, describing it as a twisty and unpredictable horror, while Warped Perspective highlighted its humane, character-driven approach.
Who Stars in Child?
The film features an international cast led by Malik Zidi, alongside Brigitte Urhausen, Lydia Indjova, Anne Klein and Dmytro Yaroshenko.
Zidi, a César Award winner known for films including Oxygen, takes on a leading role as Neshvad’s story explores the devastating consequences of a parent’s determination to save their child.
When Is Child Released in the UK?
Child will be released in UK cinemas from 2 October 2026.
For fans of psychological horror, mystery thrillers and unsettling independent cinema, Neshvad’s feature debut could be one to watch this autumn.
