Warner Bros. has released the first The Gallows trailer for the buzzy indie horror film. The picture was produced independently by filmmakers Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing, but when they posted a trailer on YouTube, it quickly spread like wildfire, leading to the film being picked up by Blumhouse Productions and Warner Bros. and slated for a prime summer release.

The story takes place twenty years after an accident caused the death of the lead actor during a high school play, and revolves around a group of students in the same small town who decide to stage the same play as a way to honor the deceased. Soon thereafter their memorial turns to terror.

This teaser trailer is incredibly effective, relying on dread and tension buildup rather than quick cutting, gore, or a hodgepodge of scares. This is but a small taste of the full film, but it’s certainly a promising look at something that two of the most successful studios around jumped at the chance to bring to audiences at large.

Watch the teaser trailer below, via Warner Bros., and click here to watch Steve’s extended video interview with the filmmakers, in which they recount the crazy story of the film’s journey. The Gallows will open in theaters on July 10th.


Here’s the synopsis for The Gallows:

Twenty years after an accident caused the death of the lead actor during a high school play, students at the same small town school resurrect the failed stage production in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy—but ultimately find out that some things are better left alone.

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Image via Warner Bros