The psychological and playful exploration of envy is a largely relatable one for fans of the thriller genre. But the path becomes a bit more surreal and absurdist as filmmakers delve into the strange path that leads back to the self. The new dramedy, ‘Mallory’s Ghost,’ is one such feature that does just that through the titular protagonist’s latest examination into her self-worth.

Arabella Oz, who plays the movie’s eponymous character, also wrote, directed and edited the project. She worked closely with her husband, Nick Canellakis, on creating the movie. He served as the thriller’s co-director, co-editor and composer, and also portrayed Mallory’s boyfriend, Sam, in the story. Besides Oz and Canellakis, the film also stars Anjelica Bosboom, Delphi Harrington, Shahjehan Khan and Evangeline Beasley. The dramedy was produced by Claire Sinofsky.

‘Mallory’s Ghost’ follows the titular character, who’s plagued by fears of being unremarkable, as she joins her playwright boyfriend Sam on a retreat to coastal Maine. When she learns he once brought his glamorous ex, Louise (Bosboom), there, she’s struck with an obsessive curiosity about his past. As her jealousy takes hold, Mallory becomes convinced she’s being haunted by the ghost of Louise herself. Pulled into a journey that slips between past and present, rivalry and affection, melancholy and creativity, Mallory drifts further from her old life and toward something essential.

‘Mallory’s Ghost’ had its World Premiere in the Narrative Feature Competition on March 14 during SXSW Film Festival 2026 at Alamo Lamar. Two days after the dramedy’s premiere, Oz, Canellakis, Bosboom and Sinofsky generously took the time to sit down at the Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel for an exclusive interview to talk about the movie.

Film Factual (FF): Arabella, you wrote the script for the new thriller, ‘Mallory’s Ghost.’ What was the inspiration behind, and process of, scribing the screenplay?

Arabella Oz (A): I had the idea about seven or eight years ago while on a trip with an ex-boyfriend, thinking about jealousy and relationships. I wrote the first draft in 2021.

Nick and I had just started dating, and I was thinking about these themes a lot. We workshopped the script for a couple of years until it felt ready. Then I reached out to Claire, a producer and friend, to help get it moving. After that, we found Louise om Angelica Bos, and it snowballed from there.

FF: Anjelica, what drew you to star in ‘Mallory’s Ghost’ as Louise?

Anjelica Bosboom (AB): When I first read the script, I felt it captured a very tricky aspect of relationships in a compelling way on the page. That really interested me. We’ve all experienced that type of jealousy about someone in our lives, and I was intrigued to explore that.

We also talked about this (the night before the interview) at our second screening – I also appreciated how the script humanized all the characters. Without giving anything away, I loved how the story unfolds, and found myself rooting for everyone.

FF: Arabella, why was it important for you to tell this story as an actress? At point did you decide to star in the film?

AO: I wasn’t always committed to acting in it. It partly came down to practicality.

Nick Canellakis (NC): I also don’t recall us too heavily considering not starring in it.

AO: Nick and I had workshopped the scenes so much that it felt natural for us to perform them.

NC: I don’t know if it was just for ease, but the dialogue – at least for our characters – is based on our real-life rapport. We’re married, so the writing reflects our voices. So it just felt very natural that we would also star in the movie.

It’s also a very personal, vulnerable story that comes from Arabella’s perspective. So it made so much sense for her to play the character, as she was revealing a part of herself in the script.

FF: Once all of the actors were cast, what was it like working together and building relationships on set?

AO: It was smooth. We clicked easily, which was a really big part of the casting. We wanted a dynamic where we could all connect naturally, which we did end up having between the three of us.

Nick and I had worked together before…

NC: …So we already had a shorthand, and being married helped. The film became part of our daily lives, which made the process enjoyable.

AB: The rehearsal time between the three of us was a huge gift, and I’m grateful for it. Spending a few days going through the script helped me to get to know, and build strong relationships with, Nick and Arabella before filming even started. You don’t always get that, so it was really helpful.

That way, by the time we all showed up in Maine, where we filmed, I felt like I already know them. Our relationship only grew over the course of the shoot, which was great.

Claire Sinofsky (CS): There was also some luck in casting. Two months before shooting, we didn’t have a complete cast. We found key actors, including Delsey Harrington, who played Laura, two weeks before we needed her on set. So it was really a process, but it all came together at the last minute.

FF: Anjelica, you mentioned filming the dramedy in Maine. What were your experiences lie shooting the movie there?

AO: We used my grandparents’ house as the main location, which made it feasible to shoot there.

NC: We got a good rate!

AO: We adapted the script to fit the space, so the story would be feasible for us to shoot in. Claire, how would you describe shooting in Maine?

CS: Filming in Maine isn’t easy since there aren’t many tax incentives there. But our cinematographer, Jeff Griecci, brought together a hardworking local crew. It’s a small film community, which made the experience special. We all lived together in the house, which created a close, collaborative environment.

AB: It’s also a beautiful place. On days off, we could go to the water and enjoy nature. There were wild turkeys running around everywhere! It felt remote but still close to Portland.

FF: Speaking of working with the movie’s cinematographer, Jeff Griecci, what was the collaboration process like while you create the feature’s visual style?

NC: Meeting Jeff was a turning point. The state of Maine really was integral to this film, as he lives there, so Arabella found him on Google, and we immediately loved his work. Once he joined, much of the crew came together through him. We loved his work, and he became a key part of the film.

AO: We shot on an ARRI Alexa 35 and used vintage Cooke Speed Panchro lenses to create a nostalgic feel inspired by 1990s romantic comedies. The lenses softened the digital image to achieve a more classic look.

NC: Arabella always felt very strongly about a kind of filmic look. At one point, she was thinking even as far back as the ‘40s and ‘50s, and also too inspiration from the ’70s. We ultimately landed on the look of movies from the ’90s that really inspired the cinematography. The lenses we used softened th fancy digital camera a bit to get us closer to that look.

FF: Claire, what was your experience like serving as a producer on the movie?

CS: I usually work in documentaries, which often involves very small crews and budgets. So working with a slightly larger team on this film felt like a luxury.

Everyone took on multiple roles, and it truly felt like a collective effort. There were many moments where things could have fallen apart, but everything came together in a way that felt almost guided.

FF: With ‘Mallory’s Ghost’ being an indie film, did you stick closely to the script, or did the budge and schedule allow you time to also improv on set?

AO: We mostly stuck to the script, but there was some improvisation, especially during rehearsals. Anjelica, do you remember improvising at all?

AB: I think within the rehearsals we did a fair amount and then maybe some things got put into the script from when I was there. Then we did certain takes on set that were improv.

NC: Arabella’s script is meticulous, but some of those moments made their way into the final script. While the writing was very precise, we allowed flexibility in delivery, so it felt natural.

FF: Nick, you also served as the composer on the thriller. What was the process of creating the score?

NC: It was challenging and time-consuming, but incredibly rewarding. I’m a classical musician, which is my day job. But this was my first time composing a feature film score. It was a demanding process, but very special.

FF: Arabella and Nick, you both also served as editors on ‘Mallory’s Ghost,’ alongside co-editor Katie Mcquerrey. How did you approach putting the final version of the thriller together?

AO: We initially edited it ourselves since we had experience and understood comedic timing. After about a year, we hit a creative block with the tone and shape of the story.

So we brought in an editor, Katie McQuerrey, who has worked with the Coen Brothers. She helped refine the tone and structure. She played a crucial role in shaping the final version, especially since the film blends multiple genres.

Katie was really instrumental in helping us find the tone of the film because it’s a very unique story, tonally. It’s hard to categorize the genre. Even though we have elements of comedy and thriller and magical realism, it was important to us that we had a sense of cohesion at the same time. She was the reason that we were able to find that.

FF: How did you balance comedy with heavier themes?

AO: We always tried to bring humor into the film, even in heavier moments. We wanted the movie to be enjoyable.

NC: I remember workshopping Arabella’s script as it was being written. It was a great thing for us to be able to workshop the writing of the script and rehearsing the acting at the same time.

I remember a phrase that we would always use. Arabella was so clear in what she wanted to accomplish in a scene, so we would say, “Okay, now let’s juice. Let’s just have fun with it.” So that’s where a lot of the more comedic moments came in without getting off track from what the point of the scene is.

AO: We got lucky too. Angelica had some dry humor in her audition, but we also got lucky in creating humor with each other. That was really important, even in the heavier scenes.

FF: ‘Mallory’s Ghost’ had its World Premiere at SXSW Film Festival this past Saturday, March 14. What does it mean for all of you to share the dramedy with audiences (here) in Austin?

CS: It feels surreal. When we started, it was just an idea and a dream. When Arabella asked me to come on two years ago, it was kind of like $2 in a dream a little bit. So to make it happen, and then to be here and see people become so touched by the film is special. So it’s amazing.

It’s also nice because indies are small. We’re like an underdog. So to have SXSW, which is one of the biggest festivals in the country – and in the world, really – take a chance on us was amazing.

AB: Yes, I agree. For it to be our first festival experience alto together was such a gift. When Arabella called me, I just about dropped the phone. It’s a dream come true for me to be here with these people. To be inspired and surrounded by so many other artists, and for people to see what we created together, is just amazing.

NC: This festival has sort of exceeded my wildest expectations. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it would be epic. What we’re experiencing with our film, as well as experiencing with other filmmakers’ films, is very inspiring.

AO: Yes, it (was) amazing. We were trying to do something new with this film, but we didn’t know if it work. It’s a unique film, as it has a unique tone and plot, so it was a risk. So to feel the response from Claudette (Godfrey, the former director of festival programming and vice president of film who stepped down from the position last week) and television and the programmers here at SXSW was like, “Okay, wow. This is what our dream was – we wanted SXSW to be the movie’s home.”

The festival really does feel like it’s perfect home. It feels like this is the perfect audience to receive this project that we’ve all poured our hearts into. So, it is a total dream come true.

NC: You never know if something’s going to land, and films are so subjective. So when we found out that our movie resonated not only with audiences, but also the programmers at SXSW, it was, as Arabella said, a dream come true.