Villain (2026)
Director: Jack Rykert
Cast: Jack Rykert, Jolene Andersen, Jordan Deering, Erin Kuykendall, Nathalie Bryant
Clyde returns home for winter break with one hope: that his distant brother, Sean, will finally show up for the family’s Christmas Eve gathering. The plates are arranged, the candles are lit—but Sean’s chair remains empty.
More About This Film
Villain is a 2026 American 19-minute drama short centered on Clyde, who returns home for winter break and asks his estranged brother Sean to join the family for Christmas Eve dinner. When Sean does not appear, Clyde finds himself trying to preserve the peace while his family's curiosity and expectations intensify.
Rachel Ma and Jack Rykert co-directed the film, with Rykert also writing and starring as Clyde. The short uses a family dinner setting to explore suppressed anger, estrangement, and the difference between what a family believes and what is actually happening.
- Rachel Ma and Jack Rykert directed the film.
- Jack Rykert wrote the screenplay and plays Clyde.
- Jolene Andersen and Jordan Deering are among the principal cast.
- The film was released in the United States on March 26, 2026.
- IMDb lists one award win for the short.