Hollywood power couples usually make headlines for their red-carpet appearances, glamorous vacations, or social media moments. But Justin Long and Kate Bosworth are choosing a far bloodier spotlight with their upcoming horror-comedy Coyotes. Directed by Colin Minihan, a filmmaker well-known for his inventive twists on horror, the film will debut at Fantastic Fest on September 20, 2025, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the year’s most unexpected genre entries.
The setup is deceptively simple: a wealthy family in the Hollywood Hills finds themselves besieged by a ravenous pack of coyotes. What begins as an ordinary night quickly spirals into a brutal, surreal, and hilariously dark battle for survival. Minihan promises the film will balance gore and absurdity, ensuring audiences laugh even as they squirm in discomfort.
For Justin Long, the project feels like a natural fit. Long has been steadily building a reputation as one of modern horror’s most reliable talents. From his unforgettable performance in Barbarian (2022) to his genre-bending role in Kevin Smith’s Tusk (2014), Long thrives when scripts push him into strange, unsettling territory. Coyotes allows him to flex both comedic timing and dramatic chops, offering a character who is at once terrified, sarcastic, and oddly resourceful.
Kate Bosworth, meanwhile, has become increasingly selective in her film choices. Known early on for roles in Blue Crush (2002) and Superman Returns (2006), she has since pivoted toward darker, riskier material. Her work in Before I Wake (2016) hinted at an affinity for supernatural thrillers, but Coyotes gives her the chance to fully embrace chaos. As Bosworth herself described in pre-release interviews, her character is “a mother who refuses to be a victim, even when surrounded by predators - both animal and human.”
The dynamic between Bosworth and Long adds an extra layer of intrigue. Married in real life, their chemistry brings authenticity to their on-screen relationship. But in a horror-comedy context, that authenticity can be twisted into black humor. Audiences will watch a couple who bickers, strategizes, and panics in ways that feel painfully real, even while exaggerated by the nightmarish scenario.
Colin Minihan’s direction is also worth spotlighting. Genre fans may remember him as one-half of The Vicious Brothers, who made waves with the found-footage cult hit Grave Encounters (2011). Since then, Minihan has carved out a niche as a filmmaker who blends emotional resonance with horror spectacle. His 2018 thriller What Keeps You Alive was praised for its intimate yet shocking portrayal of betrayal and violence. With Coyotes, he seems intent on pushing boundaries again, using something as mundane as suburban wildlife to unleash terror.
Thematically, the movie isn’t just about surviving hungry animals. Early buzz suggests Coyotes doubles as a satirical swipe at Hollywood privilege. The Hills, with their sprawling mansions and manicured landscapes, represent a fragile bubble of wealth and isolation. When that bubble is pierced by the natural world - in this case, feral creatures who refuse to play by human rules - the result is both horrific and absurd. Some critics speculate the film might echo elements of Jordan Peele’s Us (2019) or The Purge series, where horror is a lens for examining social divides.
The coyotes themselves are also said to be a highlight. Minihan has reportedly blended practical effects, animal stunt work, and CGI enhancement to bring the predators to life. Rather than treating them as mere background threats, the film leans into their unpredictability, giving each attack sequence a chaotic energy. Early production stills show snarling jaws, blood-splattered interiors, and surreal images of predators prowling luxury poolsides.
What separates Coyotes from other survival horror films is its embrace of comedy. Minihan has emphasized that the laughs will not undermine the stakes but rather amplify them. Think of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II or the more recent Ready or Not (2019) - films that thrive on tonal whiplash, letting audiences scream one moment and howl with laughter the next. Justin Long, with his natural knack for self-deprecating humor, is perfectly positioned to make audiences laugh even as the gore piles up.
Fantastic Fest, the Austin-based genre showcase, is the perfect launchpad for a film like Coyotes. Known for celebrating offbeat and boundary-pushing cinema, the festival thrives on movies that take risks. If the premiere lands well, Coyotes could secure a cult following before it even reaches mainstream distribution. Horror fans will be especially eager to see how Long and Bosworth handle their first full-blown collaboration, and whether Minihan can once again deliver a unique entry into the ever-evolving horror landscape.
Industry insiders believe Coyotes may also hint at a growing trend in horror: nature reclaiming space once dominated by humans. With films like Crawl (2019), Beast (2022), and now Coyotes, animal-driven horror is enjoying a resurgence. But while many of those entries leaned toward straightforward terror, Minihan’s film injects a satirical edge. In an era where Hollywood excess often clashes with environmental concerns, using wild animals as the ultimate disruptors feels both timely and deliciously ironic.
Looking ahead, Coyotes has the potential to become a midnight movie favorite - the kind of outrageous, bloody spectacle that fans revisit with friends just to revel in its outrageousness. Between its star power, its biting humor, and its feral menace, it promises to deliver something fresh to horror audiences craving both scares and laughs.
For Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, this film marks not only a career milestone but also a declaration: they’re ready to embrace the weird, wild, and wonderfully grotesque side of cinema. Whether audiences leave Fantastic Fest terrified, amused, or both, one thing is certain - Coyotes is going to leave bite marks on 2025’s horror calendar.
Tags: Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Coyotes movie, horror comedy 2025, Colin Minihan, Fantastic Fest 2025, animal attack horror, Hollywood Hills horror, survival horror comedy, new horror movies
