Quick Take
Emma Higgins’ new thriller Sweetness retools the “fan obsession” trope into a tense, intimate horror that pits teenage devotion against the destructive life of a pop star. Starring Kate Hallett, Herman Tømmeraas, and Aya Furukawa, the film arrives on digital and on-demand February 13, 2026. A recently released exclusive clip teases the scene that sets the story racing toward increasingly dangerous territory.
The Moment That Starts Everything
The exclusive clip opens amid the aftermath of a packed concert where thousands spill into a stadium’s corridors. Two teenage fans—Rylee (Kate Hallett) and Sidney (Aya Furukawa)—are determined to meet Payton Adler (Herman Tømmeraas), the charismatic musician at the center of their devotion. When Rylee branches off from her friend and passes the merch table, she notices a slightly ajar service door. Through it, she glimpses Payton in a tense conversation.
The moment escalates when Payton’s manager notices Rylee watching and she bolts. The clip ends there, cutting before any immediate fallout, but it establishes the collision of celebrity and fixated fandom that drives the rest of the movie.
How the Plot Unfolds
Trailers and promotional material fill in the next beats: after the concert encounter, Payton accidentally strikes Rylee with his car. She survives, and the two form an unlikely friendship. As Rylee learns more about Payton’s life, she discovers he is struggling with a crippling addiction. Convinced she can “save” him, Rylee kidnaps the musician and holds him captive in her home, attempting to force sobriety and rehabilitation.
The premise echoes the psychological dread of works like Stephen King’s novels and Rob Reiner’s Misery—where adoration mutates into control—but relocates that energy to a modern pop-music ecosystem and teenage perspective.
Themes and Tone
- Celebrity worship turned menacing: Sweetness explores how youthful idealization can tip into coercion when combined with personal delusion and celebrity access.
- Addiction as a trigger: The film frames Payton’s substance struggles as the catalyst for Rylee’s extreme actions, interrogating the ethics and delusions behind “helping” someone at any cost.
- Intimate thriller pacing: Rather than broad spectacle, Sweetness concentrates on claustrophobic, character-driven tension—how a single act of obsession upends multiple lives.
Cast and Key Creatives
- Director/Writer: Emma Higgins
- Lead cast:
- Kate Hallett as Rylee Hill
- Herman Tømmeraas as Payton Adler
- Aya Furukawa as Sidney
- Supporting ensemble includes Justin Chatwin (credited as Ron Hill), Steven Ogg, Amanda Brugel, Julius Cho, Erika Swayze, Maureen Cassidy, Kelly Reich, Kelsey Ruhl, Josh Reich, and Carter Belanger.
- Producers: Daniel Quinn and Taj Critchlow
The movie runs 93 minutes and is rated R. It is positioned at the intersection of music drama and thriller.
Screenings and Extras
Collider hosted a special screening of Sweetness that included a Q&A with director Emma Higgins. The exclusive clip surfaced in conjunction with that event, offering a pivotal look at the film’s inciting incident without revealing the full arc. For viewers who want a deeper dive, the screening’s Q&A provides context on Higgins’ creative intentions and the film’s influences.
Why It’s a Timely Pick
Marketed as an intense Valentine’s Day watch, Sweetness trades romantic warmth for psychological heat. Its focus on teen fandom, online-era celebrity access, and addictive illness taps into contemporary anxieties about privacy, power dynamics, and the blurred boundary between love and possession.
Release Details
- Release format: Digital and on-demand
- Release date: February 13, 2026
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- Rating: R
Watch the exclusive sneak peek to see the moment that launches Rylee and Payton’s fraught relationship, and look for Sweetness across digital platforms on February 13.