As Hannah’s inner turmoil reaches a breaking point, her thoughts manifest into a monstrous creature that threatens to upend her life. A film by Anna Zlokovic in her directorial debut, starring Hadley Robinson, Emily Hampshire, Kausar Mohammed, and Brandon Mychal Smith.

A comedy horror film based on Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween short film of the same name, starring Rachel Sennott, written and directed by Anna Zlokovic.

Hannah (Hadley Robinson), an aspiring fashion designer, finds herself navigating the treacherous waters of Cristeàn Ulman (Desmin Borges), a fashion house owner with insatiable thirst for innovation and perfection. Hannah’s job hangs in the balance when Cristeàn threatens to fire anyone who fails to produce a design that meets his high expectations.

One of Hannah’s colleagues is her best friend, Esther (Kausar Mohammed), another aspiring designer who dreams of escaping the toxic work environment and starting her own brand with Hannah. They share a matching tattoo of a pulse on their wrist, symbolizing their unwavering friendship. Esther also introduced Kaelin (Brandon Mychal Smith), her friend since college, to Hannah, and they have been in a relationship for six months.

Beneath the unrelenting stress, Hannah’s body begins to manifest her inner torment. A searing pain lances her abdomen, where her birthmark throbs, and something within her stirs. One night, a grotesque creature erupts from her birthmark, its venomous words poisoning her already fragile psyche. Before she can react, the creature tears itself free, the excruciating pain rendering her unconscious.

Hannah regains consciousness and locks the grotesque creature inside her wardrobe. Her injury and blood-soaked tank top inspire her to create a design that impresses Cristeàn Ulman. She visits a dermatologist to treat her wound, where she learns that she may have dual DNA from vanishing twin syndrome, meaning that she absorbed her twin in the womb, which explains her birthmark.

A seed of doubt is planted when Hannah notices Kaelin’s incessant messages on Esther’s phone, while he remains conspicuously silent to her own. Upon returning home, she finds that the creature has escaped its confinement in the wardrobe, its growth exponential. The creature confirms her worst fears, the betrayal of her lover and best friend. Hannah subdues the creature while it is attempting to hypnotize her and imprisons it in the basement of her building.

Intrigued by the concept of dual DNA, Hannah delves into research, leading her to an abandoned building where others with similar experiences gather. She learns to sedate the creature and quickly befriends Claudia (Emily Hampshire), a kindred spirit in whom she confides. However, Claudia harbors her own hidden agenda.

The film is captivating throughout, with Claudia’s entry into Hannah’s life elevating the deviousness. Unexpected twists and turns keep viewers guessing, while the cast delivers believable performances, particularly Esther, a strong support character who is the first to notice her best friend’s strange behavior and ultimately saves the day. Although the film features sporadic moments of humor and effective grotesque of creature design, it never fully realizes its comedic or horror potential.

APPENDAGE was released via streaming on Hulu starting 2 October 2023.