The Name Game (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Name Game is a 14-minute horror short about Charlotte, who uses a cursed name-chanting game to expose a dark family secret to Jerron. Set against a story connected to the 1950s South, the film centers on buried history, family tension and supernatural danger.

The Name Game is a 2026 horror short directed by Eli Heaton. Running 14 minutes, it follows Charlotte as she turns to a forbidden name-chanting game in an effort to reveal a troubling secret to Jerron.

The film’s premise links the supernatural game to Charlotte’s grandmother and to the American South of the 1950s. With its compact runtime, The Name Game is structured around a focused revelation and the risks attached to uncovering it.

The Name Game movie details

Story without spoilers

Charlotte is determined to tell Jerron a dark secret connected to her family. To do so, she plays a cursed name-chanting game—one her grandmother had sworn off in the 1950s South. The setup places Charlotte’s search for the truth at the center of a supernatural horror story, while the game introduces a danger tied to the family’s past.

What to expect

The Name Game is a short-form horror film built around a specific supernatural premise: a name-chanting game associated with a family secret and a warning from an earlier generation. Its 14-minute runtime suggests a tightly contained story rather than an expansive narrative. The supplied premise also points to themes of secrecy, inherited fear and the consequences of confronting buried family history, without revealing how the story develops.

Cast and creative team

Callie Bacon plays Charlotte, the character determined to uncover the family secret. Michael Spurgeon plays Jerron, while Eva Claytor plays Phyllis. Eli Heaton directs The Name Game. No writer is listed in the supplied credits.

• Callie Bacon as Charlotte
• Michael Spurgeon as Jerron
• Eva Claytor as Phyllis

Release and production context

The Name Game is listed as a 2026 horror release with a runtime of 14 minutes. Its release date is October 16, 2026. The supplied information does not identify a production country, spoken language or production company.

Movies Dock view

With its brief runtime and concentrated supernatural setup, The Name Game presents a story about the danger of reviving a forbidden ritual in pursuit of family truth. The central conflict rests on what Charlotte is willing to risk—and what the cursed game may uncover.

Film data:
TMDB