Dogwood Cinematic announced the International Premiere of Our Happy Place at the Raindance Film Festival on June 20th. A haunting psychological horror, this indie gem marks the feature debuts of writer-director Paul Bickel and co-star Raya Miles—and it’s already being called a chilling reflection of our collective pandemic anxieties.
Set in a dense, oppressive forest that mirrors the mental descent of its protagonist, Our Happy Place follows Raya (Raya Miles), a lonely woman caring for her bedridden husband. Night after night, she’s tormented by vivid nightmares: waking up in the woods, surrounded by open graves, with supernatural forces closing in. As reality and nightmare blur, Raya begins to uncover a terrifying secret buried not just in the earth—but in herself.
The film was born out of quarantine. Created under strict lockdown conditions just outside Los Angeles, Bickel and Miles shot much of the film in isolation, their surroundings fueling the film’s intense claustrophobia. Once restrictions eased, they welcomed acclaimed actors Tracie Thoms (Rent, Looper) and Eugene Byrd (8 Mile, American Horror Story) to complete the cast.
Despite—or perhaps because of—its pandemic roots, Our Happy Place pulses with eerie authenticity. The camera creeps through tight spaces and dimly lit woods, building a relentless tension that’s hard to shake. It’s a psychological horror film that trades jump scares for slow-burning dread and internal unraveling.
For Bickel, who previously directed the short films Hollow and Turning Japanese, Our Happy Place represents a bold leap into feature filmmaking. It’s a raw, atmospheric debut that’s as intimate as it is unsettling.
With solid-looking performances from both leads and a premise that taps into universal fears of isolation, guilt, and confinement, Our Happy Place promises to be one of the most haunting contenders at this year’s Raindance.
Catch it—if you dare—on June 20th.
