Vespers (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Vespers is a 12-minute drama about Miriam, a Midwestern woman trying to move forward after her Unitarian Universalist church is firebombed. When two promoters rent the congregation’s basement for a DIY punk show, their arrival places an uneasy act of hospitality at the center of the story.

Vespers is a short American drama written and directed by Charlie Schmidlin. The film follows a woman left unmoored after violence damages the religious community around her.

Its central situation is intimate but unusual: two promoters arrive to use the church basement for a DIY punk gig, and Miriam must decide how to receive them while coping with the aftermath of the firebombing.

Vespers movie details

Story without spoilers

Miriam is adrift after her Unitarian Universalist church is firebombed. In the period that follows, two promoters—Everett and Ryan—rent the congregation’s basement to stage a DIY punk gig. Their presence creates the film’s main point of tension as Miriam attempts to welcome them despite the disruption and uncertainty surrounding the church.

The story is set in a Midwestern context and focuses on a small group of people brought together by a damaged congregation, a temporary event and the question of how hospitality functions after a traumatic event. The supplied synopsis keeps the film’s further developments private.

What to expect

Vespers is a drama with a concise 12-minute running time. Its premise suggests a contained story built around Miriam’s response to an unexpected use of the church basement and the contrast between congregational space and a DIY punk show.

The film’s subject matter includes religious community, displacement after an act of violence and an attempt to extend welcome under difficult circumstances. It is best approached as a brief character-centered setup rather than a feature-length account with extensive subplots.

Cast and creative team

Tara Mallen plays Miriam, the woman at the center of the story. Vic Kuligoski appears as Everett, Morgan Brendan Sexton plays Ryan, and Dan Waller portrays Richard. Charlie Schmidlin wrote and directed Vespers.

• Tara Mallen as Miriam
• Vic Kuligoski as Everett
• Morgan Brendan Sexton as Ryan
• Dan Waller as Richard

Release and production context

Vespers is a 2026 drama from the United States of America, spoken in English. It has a runtime of 12 minutes and is listed with a release date of October 15, 2026. The supplied production information does not identify a production company.

Movies Dock view

With its short running time and focused premise, Vespers centers on the uneasy meeting between a damaged religious congregation and a temporary punk event. The film’s available details point to a compact drama about community, aftermath and the difficult work of welcoming others when familiar spaces no longer feel secure.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb