Feature film
World premiere at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival | October 2026
Special screenings around Australia at Monster Fest | October 2026
Interview with director Michael Schwarz at The Curb | October 2026
Directed by Michael Schwarz. Written by Martyn Pedler and Marek Polgar. It stars Mel Jarnson as Zoe, surrounded by an Australian ensemble including Saphira Moran, Aaron Glenane, John Kim, Lincoln Younes and Sam Delich.
“Ten years after moving to LA and failing to launch an acting career, Zoe (Mel Jarnson, Mortal Kombat, the upcoming Street Fighter) returns home to small town Australia to attend a high school friend’s wedding where she’s awkwardly confronted by a flurry of old flames. When these exes are suddenly being murdered one by one, suspicion falls on Zoe and it’s up to her and a ragtag team of old friends to prove her innocence and figure out the identity of the masked Prince Charming killer. Celebrating its World Premiere at Brooklyn Horror, The Only One plays out a twisted reverse-Scott Pilgrim scenario in joyfully throwback fashion, with debut director Michael Schwarz calling back to the early aughts slasher canon.”
Winner of Best Australian Feature Film at Monster Fest.
The judges citation: “The jury was instantly intrigued by this killer premise. One that weaponizes the mistakes of our hero’s past, points the finger directly at them, then opens up an Agatha Christie’s worth of potential villains, twisting the knife into a savagely slippery narrative. Hung on a rockstar central performance that’s anchored by an outstanding ensemble, this film looks and sounds spectacular, with a spunky score, soundtrack and slick cinematography. Making the most of its Australian lingo and location, filming in a less well-known corner of a very well-known city, it also champions practical effects and has a magnificent monster design, reminding us that so-called happily ever afters can very easily turn into your worst nightmare.“
