Auditioning is already panic inducing enough for most actors, but new indie slasher We Can’t Leave takes that anxiety to a lethal and gore-dripping extreme.

The story centers on a group of hopeful performers who arrive at a secluded location for what they believe is a standard casting call. The atmosphere quickly shifts from professional to predatory when they discover the maze-like hallways, barricaded exits, and masked killers stalking them aren’t part of any production. As the realization sinks in that they are being hunted, the role of a lifetime becomes a case of wishing they had better agents. ​

A true DIY effort, Mike Lordi serves as the film’s director, writer, cinematographer, and editor. Lordi describes the project as a love letter to old-school horror born from the real-world frustrations of the independent film grind. By twisting the familiar stress of the industry into a bloody and darkly humorous experience, the film aims to deliver a high body count with a satirical edge. ​

The cast features Grace Allison, James Parent, and Fredd Maas, leading a large group of targets in this claustrophobic survival tale. For fans of the genre looking for something fresh, Lordi is clearly confident in the premise, he has reportedly already begun work on a sequel.

We Can’t Leave hits VOD on May 12th.