Alexandra Daddario’s ‘Inground’ Turns Your Childhood Pool Into a Nightmare You Can’t Escape

The horror film genre is poised to embrace a fresh, unsettling addition with Inground, a chilling thriller starring Alexandra Daddario and Jon Cho. Directed by the talented Aaron Katz, this film promises to transform the familiar suburban setting of a backyard swimming pool into a terrifying nightmare. Scripted by Dan Dworkin, known for his work on American Horror Story, Inground blends psychological suspense with horror, tapping into the fear that lurks beneath the surface of everyday life.

Alexandra Daddario and Jon Cho Lead a Tale of Domestic Terror

Alexandra Daddario has become a genre favorite, thanks to her memorable roles in critically acclaimed projects like HBO’s The White Lotus and AMC’s Mayfair Witches. Her ability to convey vulnerability alongside intense emotion makes her a natural fit for the dark, atmospheric story Inground sets out to tell. Paired with Jon Cho, known for his performances in Star Trek and the thriller Searching, the duo brings both depth and relatability to their roles.

The plot centers on Jon Cho’s character, a recently divorced father eager to reconnect with his young son during a long, hot summer. Their plan is simple: build a backyard swimming pool together. What could be a wholesome bonding experience quickly spirals into a nightmare. The pool project becomes the catalyst for an escalating terror, trapping father and son in a fight for survival against sinister forces lurking beneath the surface.

This premise taps into a growing trend in horror films: taking ordinary, relatable situations and imbuing them with an unnerving, often supernatural or psychological threat. The suburban home—a place traditionally associated with safety and comfort—becomes a claustrophobic arena of dread, amplifying the story’s emotional impact.

The Creative Minds Behind ‘Inground’

Inground boasts a powerhouse creative team behind the camera. The screenplay is penned by Dan Dworkin, whose work on American Horror Story has earned praise for blending psychological complexity with chilling storytelling. His involvement signals that Inground will focus not just on scares but on the deep, often unsettling human emotions that fuel horror.

Director Aaron Katz, known for his indie drama Gemini, is helming the project. Katz is celebrated for his character-driven narratives and a style that emphasizes subtlety and atmosphere over jump scares. This approach suggests that Inground will offer a more thoughtful, immersive horror experience, focusing on tension and psychological depth rather than just shock value.

Adding to the film’s prestige is legendary producer Ridley Scott, who joins through his company, Scott Free Productions. Scott’s long-standing influence in cinema and horror lends significant weight to the project, underscoring the film’s ambition. Alongside Michael Pruss and Sam Roston, the production team brings decades of experience. Additionally, producers Joshua Harris and Nathan Klingher of Gramercy Park—the company behind Nicolas Cage’s The Surfer—are also involved, reinforcing the film’s high-profile backing.

Production Timeline and Anticipated Release

Production for Inground is slated to begin in March 2026, giving horror enthusiasts several months to speculate on what this film might bring to the genre. The timing places it well within the competitive horror release calendar for the year, aiming to carve out a niche as a psychologically rich thriller set in a deceptively normal environment.

With so many promising elements—top-tier acting talent, a respected director, a seasoned screenwriter, and powerhouse producers—expectations are high for Inground to deliver both critical acclaim and commercial success.

Why ‘Inground’ Could Redefine Suburban Horror

Suburban horror has become a fertile ground for filmmakers who want to explore the tension between normalcy and chaos. Films like Hereditary and The Babadook have successfully used everyday family settings to intensify psychological terror. Inground aims to join this lineage, using the concept of a backyard swimming pool—a symbol of leisure, childhood, and family bonding—as the entry point for horror.

The choice to center the story around a pool project is inspired. Pools are often associated with fun, relaxation, and family time, but they also hold an inherent danger and mystery, especially when something goes wrong. This duality enhances the suspense and gives the film a compelling contrast between light and darkness, hope and fear.

Furthermore, Inground is set to explore family dynamics against a backdrop of isolation and psychological unraveling. The father-son relationship at the story’s core will likely provide emotional weight to the suspense, making the horror feel personal and grounded.

Alexandra Daddario’s Expanding Horror Portfolio

For Alexandra Daddario, Inground represents the latest step in an evolving career within the horror and thriller genres. Her work in The White Lotus earned praise for its complex emotional layering, and her role in Mayfair Witches demonstrated her skill at conveying eerie intensity and vulnerability simultaneously.

Fans of Daddario have come to expect strong, nuanced performances, and her casting in Inground signals that the film will rely heavily on character-driven tension. Her presence alone can draw audiences who appreciate horror films that go beyond surface scares to probe deeper psychological and emotional themes.

Jon Cho’s Compelling Lead Role

Jon Cho’s role as the father struggling to reconnect with his son offers a rich emotional arc within the film’s horror framework. Known for his ability to bring warmth and authenticity to his roles, Cho’s casting elevates Inground beyond a typical thriller. His past performances in projects like Searching and Star Trek demonstrate his range, and his character in Inground demands a combination of strength, vulnerability, and resilience.

The father-son dynamic is a narrative element that often resonates with audiences, making the stakes more relatable and the horror more impactful. As the story unfolds, viewers can expect a deeply human exploration of familial bonds tested by extraordinary circumstances.What to Expect from ‘Inground’

When Inground hits theaters, it promises a horror experience that is both unsettling and thought-provoking. Unlike many horror films that rely heavily on supernatural elements or graphic violence, this movie aims for a slow-burning dread rooted in character and atmosphere.

The combination of Aaron Katz’s careful direction, Dan Dworkin’s psychologically charged script, and the compelling performances by Alexandra Daddario and Jon Cho suggests that Inground will challenge conventional horror storytelling.

Its suburban setting, focus on family, and the gradual unraveling of safety into terror will likely appeal to audiences who appreciate horror films with emotional depth and real-world resonance.

Final Thoughts

Inground is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing horror projects of 2026. The film’s premise of a simple backyard swimming pool project turning sinister underlines how ordinary situations can become the backdrop for extraordinary horror. With a talented cast led by Alexandra Daddario and Jon Cho, a screenplay by Dan Dworkin, direction by Aaron Katz, and production backing from Ridley Scott and his team, expectations are sky-high.

Horror fans looking for a blend of psychological thrills, emotional storytelling, and atmospheric tension will want to mark their calendars for Inground, with production kicking off in March 2026. This film has the potential to redefine suburban horror by proving that sometimes, the most terrifying monsters lurk not in the supernatural but within the walls of what should be a safe home.