Anna Lou Castoldi — granddaughter of Italian horror icon Dario Argento and daughter of actress Asia Argento — is stepping into the family legacy as executive producer and narrator of the giallo-inspired short film Artichoke, according to Deadline.

The short stars Alyson Gorske (Obliterated) as Cynara, a young woman spiraling through a surreal and violent fever dream, alongside Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, A Nightmare on Elm Street).

In Artichoke, Cynara finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship when she stumbles upon a mysterious phoropter capable of opening a gateway to another world. What follows is a nightmarish, reality-hopping game of cat and mouse that forces her to confront The Man (Dekker) — and decide just how much she’s willing to destroy in order to survive.

The film is directed by Amir Moini, former Fangoria Chief Marketing Officer and current Tubi Director of Executive Communications, working from a script by Adam Van Dyke. Bria O’Brien and Sam Van Dyke are producing under Skull Globe Productions, with Prince Chenoa executive producing for Galore.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Skull Globe Productions, Galore, Anna, Thomas and Alyson to create Artichoke,” said Moini. “As a lover of the visceral style of giallo and arthouse cinema, we’re excited to create something that feels both ethereal and deeply haunting.”

Dekker echoed that sentiment, calling the project “pure cinema” and describing it as “an abstract peek into a thematically complex space where sensation and visual provocation reign, and narrative questions are boldly asked — then left to hang in the ripe, dazzling air of its world.”

Production on Artichoke is set to kick off in early 2026 in Castroville, California — fittingly known as the Artichoke Center of the World.