BALL PIT (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

BALL PIT is a six-minute horror comedy about a father whose childhood trauma resurfaces when an unsettling ball pit appears at his daughter’s birthday party. Directed and written by Jarrod Yerkes, the short film combines a familiar children’s setting with monster and liminal-horror elements.

BALL PIT is a 2026 horror comedy built around a simple but unsettling premise: a father must face a childhood fear when a ball pit arrives at his daughter’s birthday party.

Written and directed by Jarrod Yerkes, the six-minute short uses the contrast between ordinary playtime and horror to frame its story. Its supplied genre and keyword details point to a compact blend of monster horror, comedy and liminal horror.

BALL PIT movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows Brian, a father haunted by a traumatic experience from childhood. During his daughter’s birthday party, the appearance of a ball pit forces him to confront the nightmare he has tried to leave behind.

The setup places a familiar family celebration at the center of the horror. The ball pit serves as the film’s key source of unease, while the premise leaves the nature of the threat for viewers to discover without revealing the outcome.

What to expect

With a six-minute runtime, BALL PIT is structured as a brief, concentrated horror story rather than an extended feature-length narrative. The horror comedy classification suggests a tonal mix of fear and humor, while the listed keywords identify monster horror and liminal horror as important parts of its premise.

The film’s setting also gives it a distinctive contrast: a child’s birthday party becomes the backdrop for a father’s personal nightmare. Beyond those supplied details, the film’s specific scares, visual approach and ending are best left unspoiled.

Cast and creative team

Jarrod Yerkes writes and directs BALL PIT. Isaac Garza plays Brian, with Arielle LaGuette as Katie. The cast also includes Leia Arnold as Young Jenny, Logan Nava as Young Brian and Sara Willars as Lucy.

• Isaac Garza as Brian
• Arielle LaGuette as Katie
• Leia Arnold as Young Jenny
• Logan Nava as Young Brian
• Sara Willars as Lucy

Release and production context

BALL PIT is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of September 5, 2026. Its status is listed as Released, and its runtime is six minutes. The production company is Garth Manor Films. No country or spoken-language information is supplied.

Production companies: Garth Manor Films

Movies Dock view

BALL PIT presents a sharply defined horror-comedy premise in short-film form: a father, a birthday party and a ball pit connected to an old trauma. Its brief runtime and combination of monster and liminal-horror elements make the central setup clear while keeping the film’s details concise and spoiler-free.

Film data:
TMDB