Feed
What happens when ancient evil meets modern vanity
Feed centers on a group of young social-media influencers who head to a remote forest retreat for what's presumably a content-packed weekend, only to find themselves face-to-face with something that predates the internet by several centuries. Specifically, they awaken the world's original female vampire — a figure drawn from Irish folklore rather than the Transylvanian playbook most audiences know. Writer-director Marco van Belle isn't just after scares here. The premise is built around a collision that feels genuinely uncomfortable: people whose entire sense of self depends on being seen, suddenly hunted by a creature who has been feeding in the dark since long before anyone thought to document their meals online. No Wi-Fi. No followers. No safety net.
The mythology behind the monster
Van Belle is grounding the film in the legend of the Dearg-Due, a figure from Irish mythology that carries its own genuinely unsettling history. Most vampire movies default to Transylvania, but Bram Stoker was Dublin-born — a fact that gets lost in the Gothic castle imagery. By setting Feed in Ireland and anchoring it to Irish folklore, van Belle is doing something a lot smarter than just picking a moody location. The landscape does narrative work here. The creature isn't imported from elsewhere; it belongs to this place.
Van Belle previously directed Arthur and Merlin, which tells you he's comfortable with mythological source material. He's not treating the Dearg-Due like a tourist attraction.
Cast, production, and the 100-minute choice
Feed is led by Daisy Jelley, with Grace Collender, Rhys Mannion, Molly McCann, Flynn Gray, Clinton Liberty, Niamh Hogan, and Charlotte Bradley rounding out the ensemble. Irish trade outlet IFTN confirmed Clinton Liberty's involvement early, noting his casting in a vampire horror titled Feed alongside Niamh McCormack — which gives you a sense of how the Irish film community has been tracking this one.
The production is a collaboration between Ripple World Pictures, Big Safari, and Creativity Capital, with filming taking place across Ireland. The film runs approximately 100 minutes — a deliberate runtime choice (and honestly, a refreshing one). Contemporary horror has a bad habit of stretching to two hours when ninety minutes would serve the story better. Feed seems to understand that discipline matters.
Why the influencer angle actually works
Here's the thing nobody mentions enough about horror built on social-media premises: it depends entirely on casting specificity. If the influencers feel like archetypes, the whole thing evaporates. But van Belle's ensemble doesn't appear to be playing types so much as specific, recognizable people — which is what separates horror that lingers from horror that evaporates by the drive home.
The collision between ancient hunger and modern vanity only works if you believe these characters first, before the terror arrives. The Dearg-Due is a figure associated with blood, betrayal, and a kind of predatory need that has nothing to do with content calendars or engagement metrics. Placing her opposite people whose power is entirely constructed, entirely dependent on an audience, suggests van Belle is interested in what "influence" actually means when you strip the platform away. Hard to say if the film fully delivers on that potential until it's in front of audiences — but the architecture of the premise is sound.
If you're drawn to folk horror, to the specific dread of ancient things operating by rules nobody alive remembers, this one looks built for you.
When and where Feed releases
Feed has a confirmed theatrical date of June 25, 2026 in Russia. Broader international theatrical and digital distribution details haven't been finalized yet, which is typical for films still in post-production.
Movie OTT is tracking streaming availability and platform announcements as they're confirmed across regions. The where-to-watch widget at the top of this page will update automatically once Feed becomes available on major services in your area — and when distribution announcements do start rolling out, they tend to move quickly for horror titles at this stage.
No critic scores or box-office figures exist yet (obviously — the film hasn't been released). Letterboxd's listing for Feed confirms the credits and release window; check back there as June 2026 approaches for early viewer reactions once it hits theaters.
Watch order and comparisons
There's a separate 2026 horror film also titled Feed — a Canadian production about a new mother and folkloric intervention, released in Germany in March 2026. Different film entirely. The Feed covered here is van Belle's Irish vampire horror with Daisy Jelley.
If you've found yourself drawn to recent folk horror — A Dark Song, Ari Aster's Midsommar, The Wailing — Feed appears positioned in that space: slow-burn dread built on genuine mythology rather than jump-scare mechanics. Start with van Belle's previous work (Arthur and Merlin) if you want context on his approach to source material, then move into Feed when it lands.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch Feed online?
Not anywhere yet — Feed is still in post-production ahead of its 2026 release. Movie OTT will update with streaming platform details as soon as distribution rights are confirmed for your region. The theatrical date for Russia is June 25, 2026; other territories haven't confirmed dates yet.
Q: Who's in Feed?
Daisy Jelley leads an ensemble that includes Grace Collender, Rhys Mannion, Molly McCann, Flynn Gray, Clinton Liberty, Niamh Hogan, and Charlotte Bradley. Marco van Belle wrote and directed.
Q: What is the Dearg-Due?
A figure from Irish mythology — a female vampire associated with blood and ancient hunger. Van Belle has cited it as a primary inspiration alongside Bram Stoker's Dracula, using the legend to give Feed specifically Irish identity rather than defaulting to generic vampire mythology.
Q: How long is Feed?
Approximately 100 minutes. Van Belle isn't padding the runtime — the film is built for economy.
Q: When does Feed release?
June 25, 2026 in Russia (confirmed). Other territories and streaming windows remain unannounced. Check back here as the 2026 release window approaches.
The bottom line
Feed is worth watching if you want horror with something going on beneath the surface — not just a monster, but a monster that means something. Van Belle's approach to Irish folklore suggests he's thought this through rather than trend-chasing. The influencer premise could easily tip into satire, but he seems to be playing it straight, which is braver and probably smarter.
Ancient evil versus modern vanity. Keep an eye on this one.
