Sludge (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Sludge is an 11-minute comedy-drama thriller centered on Tony, a rambunctious young man whose prank on his best friend takes a disturbing turn. Directed by Richard Imburgio, the short film stars Owen Russell, Derek Myers, Hallie Eliza Friedman, Steve Alleva and Kwangmin Lee.

Sludge is a short comedy-drama thriller about the consequences of a prank that goes badly wrong. The film follows Tony, a rambunctious young man whose night takes an unexpectedly nightmarish turn after targeting his best friend.

Directed by Richard Imburgio, the 2026 release has a compact 11-minute runtime. Its premise places humor and unease side by side, suggesting a story that moves quickly from mischief into danger without revealing more than its central setup.

Sludge movie details

Story without spoilers

The story follows Tony after a prank aimed at his best friend, Alex, spirals out of control. What begins as an act of youthful mischief becomes a frightening ordeal, sending Tony on a nightmarish journey. The supplied synopsis keeps the specific events and outcome undisclosed, so the film’s central tension rests on discovering how far the prank’s consequences reach.

What to expect

Sludge is classified as a comedy, drama and thriller, giving the short film a blend of tonal elements rather than a single-genre focus. Viewers can expect a concise premise built around friendship, a reckless prank and escalating consequences. At 11 minutes, the film is structured as a brief, concentrated story rather than a feature-length exploration.

Cast and creative team

Owen Russell plays Tony, the young man at the center of the story, while Derek Myers portrays Alex. Hallie Eliza Friedman appears as Jennifer, Steve Alleva plays The Cleaner and Kwangmin Lee is credited as Tourist. Richard Imburgio directs Sludge; no writer is listed in the supplied credits.

• Owen Russell as Tony
• Derek Myers as Alex
• Hallie Eliza Friedman as Jennifer
• Steve Alleva as The Cleaner
• Kwangmin Lee as Tourist

Release and production context

Sludge is a 2026 film with a listed release date of November 13, 2026. It is classified as Released and has a runtime of 11 minutes. The supplied metadata identifies it as a short film but does not list a country, spoken language or production company.

Reported production figures:
Budget $10

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With its compact runtime and sharply defined premise, Sludge focuses on the fallout from one ill-advised prank. The combination of comedy, drama and thriller elements gives the film a distinctive tonal framework, while the available details leave the specifics of Tony’s ordeal for the film itself.

Film data:
TMDB