THE NICE ONES Peter Stylianou’s Sci-Fi Thriller Arrives on Demand

What if the people you trusted most suddenly became too nice?

Writer-director Peter Stylianou’s unsettling new psychological horror-thriller, The Nice Ones, arrives on demand via Level 33 Entertainment. The haunting film blends intimate paranoia with sci-fi, supernatural horror, and cosmic dread.

When Politeness Turns Terrifying

The story follows Kate, who joins her boyfriend and his friends for a remote countryside retreat. When strange lights begin appearing in the sky, the group’s dynamic starts to shift as, one by one, they become eerily calm, agreeable, and almost unnaturally kind. As Kate grows increasingly convinced that something has taken over her companions, she finds herself dismissed as unstable, leaving her to question whether she is losing her grip on reality or is the only person seeing the truth.

Exploring ‘False Light’ and Benevolent Evil

The Nice Ones plays with a particularly disturbing premise by asking what happens if evil doesn’t look threatening at all, but instead presents itself as benevolent, enlightened, and good. Stylianou introduces the concept of “false light”—beings who appear righteous and benevolent while committing disturbing acts in the name of something they believe is good—giving the film a distinct contemporary edge. The director cites classic chillers like The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers as inspirations while taking the familiar premise in a fresh direction.

Stellar Ensemble Cast

At the center of the film is Joelle Rae (The Witcher, The Larkins) as Kate. She is supported by an ensemble cast that includes Emrhys Cooper (Nosferatu), Ayvianna Snow (Black Lake, How to Kill Monsters), Daniela Norman (Tiny Pretty Things), James Akka (The Sandman), Donna Preston (Good Omens), and Ian Whyte (Game of Thrones, The Northman, Alien vs. Predator). 

Building Atmosphere in Kent

The film was shot in Kent over 19 days, primarily inside a single large house. By utilizing this contained setting, the production creates a world that feels considerably larger and more unsettling than its physical footprint.

The Nice Ones is produced by Andreas Olavarria (A Unicorn for Christmas), Taryn Procsal (Death Wish), Peter Stylianou (Drained) and Tony Currier (Who Needs Enemies).