Vertigo (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Vertigo is a 29-minute Italian short film about Federico, Vera and Nico, whose decision to try a mysterious new drug sends them into a destabilizing encounter with hallucinations, memories and buried tensions. Blending drama, thriller and comedy, the film examines how uncertain perception can become.

Vertigo is a 2026 Italian short film written and directed by Matteo Vicinanza, with additional writing by Edoardo Castignani and Giampaolo Natale. Its compact 29-minute runtime centers on three friends whose casual experiment takes an unexpectedly unsettling turn.

The film combines drama, thriller and comedy elements as Federico, Vera and Nico navigate a shifting boundary between what they perceive and what may be true. The supplied tagline, “WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?”, points toward a story shaped by fear, uncertainty and psychological disorientation.

Vertigo movie details

Story without spoilers

Federico invites his friends Vera and Nico to try a mysterious new drug. Once its effects begin, their experience becomes increasingly disorienting, with hallucinations and memories complicating their understanding of reality.

As the three friends move through this fractured experience, previously hidden tensions come to the surface. Vertigo frames their situation as a psychological confrontation with the limits of perception and the difficulty of separating truth from what the mind creates.

What to expect

Vertigo is a short-form blend of drama, thriller and comedy built around an altered-state premise. Viewers can expect a story focused on psychological uncertainty rather than an expansive plot, with the three central characters placed under pressure as reality becomes harder to interpret.

The film’s 29-minute length suggests a concentrated narrative, while its themes of hallucinations, memories, fear and interpersonal tension provide the main source of conflict. The production is associated with Wanderers and uses Italian as its spoken language.

Cast and creative team

Giuseppe Del Gaudio plays Federico, the friend who introduces Vera and Nico to the mysterious drug. Anita Visciano portrays Vera, and Carmine Alfano plays Nico. Sebastiano Del Gaudio and Giovanni Del Gaudio appear as Thief 1 and Thief 2.

Matteo Vicinanza directs the film and shares writing credit with Edoardo Castignani and Giampaolo Natale.

• Giuseppe Del Gaudio as Federico
• Anita Visciano as Vera
• Carmine Alfano as Nico
• Sebastiano Del Gaudio as Thief 1
• Giovanni Del Gaudio as Thief 2

Release and production context

Vertigo is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of October 9, 2026. It has a runtime of 29 minutes and is classified as a short film from Italy. The spoken language is Italian, and Wanderers is listed as its production company. Its genres are Drama, Thriller and Comedy.

Production companies: Wanderers

Vertigo official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

With its brief runtime and psychologically unstable premise, Vertigo presents a focused story about three friends confronting the consequences of an unusual experiment. Its emphasis on fractured reality, memories and hidden tensions places the film between intimate character drama and disorienting thriller.

Film data:
TMDB