The Animal Remains (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Animal Remains follows Mira and her dog Baxus after they intervene in a sexual assault near their isolated countryside home. As Mira faces the consequences through the justice system, the 23-minute Slovenian-Czech short film explores a disturbing shift between human conduct and the natural world.

The Animal Remains is a 2026 short film written and directed by Ivana Vogrinc Vidali, with Darja Miková also credited as a writer. The Slovenian-Czech production centers on Mira, a woman whose quiet life with her dog is disrupted by a shocking event in the nearby woods.

At 23 minutes, the film presents a tightly focused story about intervention, aftermath and the uneasy boundaries between humanity and nature. Nataša Matjašec Rošker leads the cast as Mira, alongside Čarna Lampret and Baxus, playing himself.

The Animal Remains movie details

Story without spoilers

Mira and her dog Baxus live an isolated, peaceful life in the countryside. That routine changes when they witness a sexual assault in the woods close to their home and intervene.

The incident leaves Mira to deal with its consequences, including a difficult passage through the justice system. As she tries to process what has happened, the film follows a transformation in which the distinction between human behavior and the natural world becomes increasingly uncertain.

What to expect

The Animal Remains is a short dramatic film built around a serious act of violence and its aftermath. Its premise points to a tense, morally complicated story focused on responsibility, legal consequences and personal change rather than a broad ensemble narrative.

The film’s 23-minute runtime suggests a concentrated approach to its central situation. The countryside setting and the presence of Mira’s dog are important elements of the setup, while the story’s stated movement toward a blurring of humanity and nature gives the film an unsettling conceptual direction.

Cast and creative team

Nataša Matjašec Rošker plays Mira, the film’s central character. Čarna Lampret appears as Ronja, while Baxus is credited as himself. Ivana Vogrinc Vidali directs and shares writing credit with Darja Miková.

• Čarna Lampret as Ronja
• Nataša Matjašec Rošker as Mira
• Baxus as Himself

Release and production context

The Animal Remains is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of August 21, 2026. It runs for 23 minutes and is produced by Temporama, MasterFilm and MB Grip. The production countries are Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Production companies: Temporama, MasterFilm, MB Grip

The Animal Remains official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

With its short runtime and focused premise, The Animal Remains frames one disturbing encounter as the starting point for a larger confrontation with justice, consequence and the limits of human identity. The supplied details position it as a concise, serious short film from Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb