Hellbender

16 year-old Izzy leads an isolated life on a lonely mountaintop. All she’s learned is from her protective mom and the wilderness that swallows them. Butterflies fill in for friends; waterfalls for school grounds. It’s a gentle, quiet existence — except for when Izzy and Mom bang out loud songs for their band, H6LLB6ND6R. Izzy dreams of a live gig, but Mom says that’ll never happen. Izzy is sick and mustn’t be around others. Questioning her illness and starved for companionship, Izzy sneaks down the mountain where she befriends brazen Amber. Izzy is in heaven, until a cruel drinking game with a live worm unleashes a new kind of hunger. Confused and scared, Izzy appeals to Mom for answers. But Mom’s secrets are as old and dark as the bloodline from which they’re born, and her grip is tight. Nature can only sleep for so long though, and when it wakes, it’s hungry as hell. A Shudder Original.