The Decay (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Decay is a 10-minute British horror thriller set in a failing medical centre, where a desperate patient seeks help from a bitter GP as a deadly plague threatens them both. Written and directed by Ben Curtis-Horsfall, the short film explores an urgent outbreak scenario through a tightly focused medical setting.

The Decay is a British horror thriller short film written and directed by Ben Curtis-Horsfall. Set inside a declining medical centre, it centers on a patient whose disturbing symptoms become increasingly urgent as a deadly plague spreads.

With a runtime of 10 minutes, the film places its central conflict in a confined healthcare setting. Heather Lambourn leads the cast as Ell, opposite John Joseph as Dr. John Davies, while the supporting roles include medical-centre staff, patients and figures identified as The Decayed.

The Decay movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows Ell, a desperate patient who needs a diagnosis for troubling symptoms. Her best chance of receiving help is Dr. John Davies, an embittered GP working in a declining medical centre. As the threat of a deadly plague grows, the two are forced into a struggle shaped by illness, mistrust and the need to recognize what is happening before it is too late.

The premise combines a medical crisis with zombie-horror and pandemic elements, while keeping the action focused on a small group of people confronting an escalating infection. The supplied synopsis establishes the central danger without revealing how the situation ends.

What to expect

The Decay is presented as a horror short with thriller elements, built around an outbreak threat and a medical setting rather than a broad ensemble story. Its keywords point to zombie horror, infection, pandemic anxiety and social horror, suggesting a story concerned with both physical danger and pressure within a strained public-facing institution.

At 10 minutes, the film has a compact format, so its premise is likely to be delivered with a concentrated focus on Ell, Dr. John Davies and the immediate threat around them. The setting, character roles and plague scenario provide the film’s main sources of tension without requiring a larger world-building framework.

Cast and creative team

Heather Lambourn plays Ell, the patient at the center of the story, while John Joseph portrays Dr. John Davies. Amaka Nwosu appears as The Receptionist, and Luca Galea plays The Caretaker. Jane Bristow is credited as Patient, and Adam Gaterell appears as The Attacker.

Ben Fawcett, Custass Finnigan, Kaia Hancock and Katie Louise are each credited as The Decayed. Ben Curtis-Horsfall wrote and directed the film.

• Heather Lambourn as 'Ell'
• John Joseph as Dr. John Davies
• Amaka Nwosu as The Receptionist
• Luca Galea as The Caretaker
• Jane Bristow as Patient
• Adam Gaterell as 'The Attacker'
• Ben Fawcett as 'The Decayed'
• Custass Finnigan as 'The Decayed'
• Kaia Hancock as 'The Decayed'
• Katie Louise as 'The Decayed'

Release and production context

The Decay is listed as a 2026 release from the United Kingdom, with a release date of October 31, 2026. It has a runtime of 10 minutes and is produced by Seven Horses Films. The supplied metadata does not list a spoken language.

Production companies: Seven Horses Films

Movies Dock view

The Decay offers a concise horror premise built around a patient, a reluctant doctor and a deadly outbreak inside a failing medical centre. Its short runtime and focused setting distinguish it as a compact British horror thriller, with the available details emphasizing infection, diagnosis and mounting danger without disclosing the outcome.

Film data:
TMDB