TENDER OBJECTS
Tender Objects
Short Film | Psychological Horror | 11 mins | 2026 ​​​​​​
​​​​On Halloween night, Davis, a meticulous suburban man governed by ritual and control, invites Amora, a mysterious woman with dark appetites of her own, to his home for a first dinner date. What begins as an uneasy flirtation soon curdles into a psychological contest of desire, power, and hidden compulsions. But when Amora uncovers the morbid secret at the heart of Davis’s carefully ordered world, she doesn’t recoil—she leans in, drawing them toward an intimate and irreversible collision between predator and prey.​​​
CURRENTLY ON THE 2026 FESTIVAL CIRCUIT ​​
PRODUCTION STILLS
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Tender Objects grew out of my fascination with the quiet horror of intimacy — how longing, control, and the need to be seen can slip into obsession. Set over one night, in one room, at one table, the film strips away distraction to focus on instinct, power, and the tension between vulnerability and dominance. Through restrained pacing and close observation, I wanted to explore desire as something people try to possess and control, rather than simply feel. The film leaves space for discomfort, complicity, and reflection rather than easy release.
THE CAST
ELLE HARTMAN — Amora
Elle Hartman is a classically trained actress, who trained this last summer at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). Her screen work spans film and television. Her recent work includes the feature film Khloé (2025), as well as roles in Tyrannosaurus (2024), and in Ink Loved (2024), where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Festival. Hartman's performances are marked by a grounded presence and an ability to navigate tonal shifts with precision. In Tender Objects, Hartman portrays Amora, delivering a performance that balances charisma, calculation, and psychological depth. Her work in the film resists simple categorization, grounding unsettling dynamics in emotional awareness and controlled agency. Hartman continues to pursue roles that challenge vulnerability, power, and character intention.
CHRISTOPHER LAWRIE — Davis
Christopher Lawrie is a SAG-eligible actor and mixed media artist drawn to psychologically charged stories that explore danger, desire, and discomfort. Known for performances that balance restraint with exposure, his work often centers on characters operating just beneath the surface of control. Recent screen credits include Polter-Guest (AGBO / NSTFF 2025 winner) and Tooth Jerry (IndieX LA, September 2025 winner). In Tender Objects, Lawrie stars as Davis, delivering a controlled, internalized performance that allows menace and vulnerability to coexist. His portrayal relies on stillness and precision, letting threat emerge gradually rather than overtly. He is represented by WORK! Talent in Los Angeles.