One of horror’s more divisive trends continues in theScreamboatteaser trailer. The movie hails from director Steven LaMorte, who previously made a name for himself by directing 2022’sThe Mean One, a slasher horror twist on Dr. Seuss’How The Grinch Stole Christmas.Screamboatwill centeron a group of New Yorkers who come under attack by a figure who looks akin to Mickey Mouse aboard a late-night ferry, with the project entering development afterSteamboat Willieentered the public domain.
Now, some eight months after the movie was first announced,Iconic Events Releasinghas debuted the firstScreamboatteaser trailer.
The video, as seen above, offers a brief glimpse at the upcoming slasher horror movie, largely keeping the killer twist on Mickey Mouse offscreen while instead focusing on the various potential victims of the film. The footage does, however, offer a quick tease of the killer’s design, with a shadow of the figure and child-like feet being seen in brief moments.
Screamboat Isn’t The First (Or Last) Steamboat Willie Horror Project
While the initial reaction to the reveal ofaSteamboat Willie-based horror moviemay draw some initial division from fans of the Disney short film, it’s actually not the first horror adaptation of the classic Mickey Mouse short. As soon as it was reported that the short would enter the public domain, many artists took to developing a variety of twists on the Disney mascot, which has thus far included video games, redubbed cartoons and multiple movies.
This Mickey Mouse Horror Movie Is Already Way Better Than Steamboat Willie’s Slasher Adaptation
Another Mickey Mouse horror movie is in development, and it’s a lot more promising than the upcoming Steamboat Willie slasher adaptation.
The reportedly first releasedSteamboat Willieadaptation was the short film entitledThe Vanishing of S.S. Willie, a found footage-like horror short about the reported disappearance of the titular ship and turned both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, though unnamed, into deranged killers. This would be followed byThe Mouse Trap, originally entitledMickey’s Mouse Trap, that released in August 2024 to dismissal from critics and panning by audiences.Screamboatmarks the third major effort to come fromSteamboat Willie, with more attention paid to it due to the involvement of David Howard Thornton, best known for playingTerrifier’s Art the Clown, as the movie’s killer.
Thornton also starred inThe Grinchparody horror movieThe Mean One, directed byScreamboat’s Steven LaMorte.
Looking beyondScreamboat’s scheduled January 2025 release date, there are currently only two otherSteamboat Williehorror adaptations announced, one of which being an animated horror movie entitledThe Return of Steamboat WillieandMickey vs. Winnie, a crossover in the vein ofFreddy vs. Jason. Despite this surge in twisted takes, though, no filmmaker has yet to turn the short into a horror franchise inthe way of the Poohniverse, though with audiences seemingly becoming decreasingly disinterested in the horror trend, it seems likelyScreamboatmay be one of the last if it performs poorly.
Screamboat
Cast
A late-night boat ride in New York City becomes a harrowing battle for survival as a mischievous mouse morphs into a monstrous danger.
