Where Shadows Lie (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Where Shadows Lie is a 21-minute fantasy thriller inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. The fan film centers on Baric and Cedran, two townsfolk whose friendship and ordinary lives are disrupted when a mysterious, powerful ring appears, drawing them into a more dangerous situation.

Where Shadows Lie is a 2026 fantasy thriller set in a Middle-Earth-inspired world. Written and directed by Patrick Sorbero, the 21-minute fan film focuses on two townsfolk whose friendship is tested by the arrival of a mysterious ring.

Ronan Jewett and Vladimir Maruska lead the cast as Baric and Cedran. With its compact runtime and focused premise, the film presents a concise story about friendship, disruption and an object carrying unusual power.

Where Shadows Lie movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows Baric and Cedran, two townsfolk whose lives are changed by the appearance of a mysterious and powerful ring. Their friendship forms the emotional center of the story as the object introduces danger and uncertainty into their familiar surroundings.

Inspired by the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, Where Shadows Lie is framed as a Middle-Earth fan film rather than an official production connected to Tolkien’s original works. The supplied synopsis keeps the wider details of the conflict under wraps, leaving the ring and its consequences at the heart of the setup.

What to expect

Viewers can expect a short fantasy thriller built around a friendship-centered premise and the disruptive arrival of a powerful ring. The Middle-Earth inspiration points to a setting shaped by Tolkien’s broader imaginative tradition, while the 21-minute runtime suggests a focused, compact narrative rather than an expansive feature-length adventure.

The available details establish mystery and danger but do not specify the film’s wider mythology, supporting characters or ending. Its strongest defined elements are the relationship between Baric and Cedran, the ring’s unexplained significance and the tension created when their ordinary lives are interrupted.

Cast and creative team

Ronan Jewett plays Baric, while Vladimir Maruska portrays Cedran. Patrick Sorbero serves as both director and writer, giving the film a single credited creative lead behind its story and direction.

• Ronan Jewett as Baric
• Vladimir Maruska as Cedran

Release and production context

Where Shadows Lie is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of September 25, 2026. It has a runtime of 21 minutes and is presented in English. The film comes from the United States of America and was produced by Soft Lock Studios. Its status is listed as Released.

Production companies: Soft Lock Studios

Movies Dock view

Where Shadows Lie offers a compact fantasy-thriller premise rooted in friendship and the arrival of a mysterious ring. Its Tolkien-inspired Middle-Earth setting, short runtime and focused cast make it a clearly defined fan-film production, while the available information leaves the larger consequences of the ring for the film itself to reveal.

Film data:
TMDB