Affection, False Memories with Jessica Rothe and Joseph Cross - Plot

Affection Plot

Affection is the upcoming sci-fi and horror movie. Ellie (Jessica Rothe) wakes up in a nightmare: her memory resets continuously, preventing her from recognizing her husband Bruce (Joseph Cross) and daughter Alice (Julianna Layne).

Each reset disorients her, leaving only fragments of memories of a life that seems not to be hers. The man explains she suffers from a rare traumatic brain disorder causing false memories based on books, movies, and other sources. Even though Ellie vividly remembers an entire life that seems nonexistent, she resigns herself to her new reality and even begins to settle in – until cracks start to appear in what she is told. Determined to discover the truth, Ellie confronts a dark and disturbing secret.

Affection Movie Trailer

“Something came back?” asks the husband in the released trailer. “No,” she replies; “It will take some time. It always happens. After a traumatic event, the brain can recall fragments of information and turn them into false memories.”

“What kind of activities do we like to do together?” Ellie asks her daughter; “Hide and seek. I’ll start,” Alice replies. “Part of your recovery process involves isolation. We decided this together,” the husband insists, convincing her to lock herself in a cottage. Scenes of violence follow, which Ellie also sees on a television screen.

Affection Cast

Jessica Rothe has worked on All My Life, The Invitation, Happy Death Day, and the TV series The Resort. Joseph Cross has worked on Lincoln, Devotion, Licorice Pizza, and episodes of Mindhunter.

Julianna Layne – who plays daughter Alice – recently appeared in the series Scrap and the movie The Pale Blue Eye. The direction is by BT Meza, in his feature debut: “This story comes from a very personal moment, drawn from my emotions, memories, and fears, and I wanted to use sci-fi horror as a lens to explore them.”

Affection Production

The production companies are Superconductive, Minutehand Pictures, and Circa 1888. The British sales company Blue Finch Films has signed a series of sales agreements, including with Brainstorm Media for North America, Germany, Benelux, MENA, and South Korea.

Affection Critical Reviews and Release Date

The movie was presented at several festivals, receiving positive reviews. According to Bloody Disgusting, “Affection is imbued with existential questions and fears afflicting modern society, while embracing the ethics of the 1980s through body horror. Add to that Jessica Rothe’s revealing performance, and you get a gem that will connect with your mind, body, and soul.”

Collider states, “It certainly has some hiccups along the way, but Jessica Rothe’s convincing performance helps turn it into a compelling experience that smartly highlights the actress’s remarkable versatility.”

THN calls it “an exciting debut for Meza. With Affection, he manages to weave intrigue, atmosphere, and complex philosophical ideas with a touch of body horror, creating a diabolical fusion of sci-fi and horror.”

The movie releases in US cinemas on May 8, 2026.