A dystopian thriller that already won the Special Jury Prize at Manchester Film Festival is heading to Los Angeles. “Littermates” will make its North American premiere at Dances With Films on June 21.

The 87-minute sci-fi mystery follows two disoriented survivors, Liam and Mel, who take shelter at a remote English cottage during a mysterious war. Their host, Chester, takes them in after they arrive bloodied and unable to speak. He feeds them, bathes them, and teaches them language again.

But there’s a catch. Chester runs the cottage like a controlled experiment, rewarding “good behavior” with “nifties” that can be traded for karaoke sessions, hot tub time, and dance parties. As sirens and smoke close in, Mel starts questioning Chester’s rules, drawn to the locked gate and the woods beyond. Liam’s more willing to stay put. The tension between safety and curiosity starts pulling their fragile setup apart.

Directors Scott Tinkham and Michael Woloson built the film around three strong lead performances from Joey Bader, Kaylee McGregor, and Oliver Woolf. The filmmakers blend absurdist humor with dystopian dread, creating a mystery about trust, control, and what’s actually real.

For indie filmmakers working in genre storytelling, “Littermates” shows how contained settings and psychological tension can deliver big scares on a tight budget.