From Summer Bay to Southport: Home & Away Stars Join Jennifer Love Hewitt in Chilling Hollywood Horror!
- Posted on 21 July, 2025
Once known for surf, sun, and small-town scandal, the stars of Home & Away are trading Summer Bay’s golden beaches for something far more sinister. In a surprising crossover of Aussie charm and Hollywood chills, several former Home & Away fan-favorites have landed roles alongside scream queen Jennifer Love Hewitt in an upcoming supernatural horror film titled The Southport Haunting — a psychological thriller set to take audiences on a terrifying ride through the shadows of a haunted seaside town.
The movie, now in post-production, marks a major career leap for actors who cut their teeth on Seven’s iconic soap. Among those making waves in the horror genre are Sophie Dillman (Ziggy Astoni), Matt Evans (Theo Poulos), and Sam Frost (Jasmine Delaney), each taking on chilling new characters a far cry from their sunlit soap personas.
A New Chapter in Southport
Directed by rising horror auteur Lena Maxwell, The Southport Haunting follows the story of an American family who inherits an old inn on the windswept coast of Southport, England — only to discover its dark, ghostly past. Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Claire Winters, a single mother fleeing a traumatic past, whose arrival awakens something long dormant in the crumbling seaside estate.
Dillman plays Emily Raine, a troubled historian and medium who becomes Claire’s reluctant ally when the paranormal disturbances turn violent. Evans takes on the role of Caleb, a local handyman with secrets of his own, while Frost delivers a haunting performance as Lucy Bellamy, a spectral figure whose fate is entangled with the inn’s blood-soaked history.
For longtime fans of Home & Away, the transition from Summer Bay to spooky shores is both exciting and surreal. “It’s the kind of role I never thought I’d be offered so soon,” Dillman said in a behind-the-scenes interview. “There were days on set where I had to scream my lungs out for hours — not exactly Palm Beach vibes!”
Jennifer Love Hewitt Returns to Horror
The film also marks a long-anticipated return to horror for Jennifer Love Hewitt, best known for her roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Ghost Whisperer. “I’ve always loved this genre,” Hewitt shared. “When I read the script, I was drawn to Claire’s vulnerability and resilience. And working with this new wave of Australian talent has been inspiring — they’re fearless.”
Rumors suggest the film’s producers specifically sought out Home & Away alumni after seeing the global popularity of Australian TV stars on streaming platforms. With the soap airing in over 80 countries and enjoying cult status in the UK and Ireland, casting familiar faces offered instant recognition — and unexpected acting chops.
From Daylight Drama to Nightmarish Cinema
The move from melodrama to the macabre isn’t as unusual as it sounds. Many Home & Away stars have launched successful international careers — from Chris Hemsworth (Thor) to Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Now You See Me). This new wave, however, is embracing darker material earlier in their careers.
“Soap operas teach you a lot,” said Matt Evans. “You learn stamina, emotional depth, how to cry on cue — and how to keep going after ten takes in the rain. Horror demands that kind of endurance, but it’s more stylized, more intense. There’s no safety net. You’re constantly on edge.”
Critical Buzz and Festival Anticipation
Industry insiders say The Southport Haunting has already generated buzz on the indie horror circuit, with whispers of a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) later this year. Early footage screened at a private industry event reportedly left audiences “speechless” — a blend of atmospheric horror, emotional depth, and slow-burning dread.
Director Lena Maxwell, known for her cult horror short The Hourglass, praised the cast for their commitment. “There’s a reason Home & Away actors do so well abroad — they know how to ground emotion in genre storytelling. Jennifer brought gravitas, and the Aussie actors brought raw intensity. It’s lightning in a bottle.”
What’s Next?
If The Southport Haunting performs well at the box office — and early indicators suggest it might — a sequel or spinoff series could follow. With global interest in psychological horror at an all-time high, the film could be a springboard for the Home & Away cast to cement themselves as international stars.
From Summer Bay heartbreaks to Southport hauntings, the journey proves one thing: these stars aren’t afraid to take risks, scream in the dark, and leave their comfort zones behind.
Let me know if you’d like this translated into Italian or adapted into a news segment or press release!
Once known for surf, sun, and small-town scandal, the stars of Home & Away are trading Summer Bay’s golden beaches for something far more sinister. In a surprising crossover of Aussie charm and Hollywood chills, several former Home & Away fan-favorites have landed roles alongside scream queen Jennifer Love Hewitt in an upcoming supernatural horror…