Horror icon Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, Suitable Flesh) makes her return in the upcoming psychological thriller Teacher’s Pet, written and directed by indie filmmaker Noam Kroll. The film is set to premiere later this month at the Dances with Films festival, and a new batch of first-look images has just been released.

Joining Crampton in the cast are Luke Barnett (Dark Winds), Sara Tomko (Resident Alien), Drew Powell (Gotham), Michelle Torian, and Kevin Makely (Young Rock). The ensemble also includes Clayton Royal Johnson (Stranger Things), Alexe-Anne Godin, Richard Handley (The Black String), and Alexis DawTyne.

The film centers on a gifted high school senior (Torian) who is drawn to her charming and mysterious new teacher (Barnett), hoping he might offer an escape from her chaotic personal life. But as the school year unfolds, she learns that his mentorship hides a far darker agenda—and the price of his help might be more than she’s willing to pay.

Noam Kroll, known for his work in independent film and his popular filmmaking podcast Show Don’t Tell, brings his DIY sensibilities to Teacher’s Pet. His podcast regularly features top industry talent, including Tom DeLonge (Monsters of California), David F. Sandberg (Shazam!), and Larry Kasanoff (Terminator 2), reaching an audience of over 500,000 filmmakers each month through his blog, newsletters, and social media channels.

The film is produced by Launch Releasing CEO Sheldon Brigman alongside Richard Handley, Kroll, Kayli Fortun, and Brian Hanson. Executive producers include Barnett, Brigman, Kelby Thwaits, and Charles Bunce.

Stay tuned for the trailer and more updates as Teacher’s Pet prepares to make its festival debut.