A FOUR-PART AUDIO DRAMA EXPLORING GRIEF, POSSESSION, AND THE DARK SIDE OF HOLDING ON.
Psychological Horror Mini-Series Premieres February 26, 2026 Across All Podcast Platforms
Grief-stricken Kaylee is entranced when her dead wife Mya is reborn as a mysterious new tattoo. But their blissful reunion turns dark and hungry forcing Kaylee to choose between her un-dying love and her very survival.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY, 26 2026
OMINOUS THRILL, the audio fiction podcast from creator Jeff Schmidt, today announced INK, a groundbreaking four-part psychological horror series that explores the seductive danger of refusing to let go. Blending surrealist drama, body horror, and Gothic atmosphere, INK follows Kaylee as she descends into a hallucinatory world where her dead wife Mya returns and demands something far darker than blissful reunion.
One year after losing Mya to violence, Kaylee travels to New Orleans with friends to commemorate the anniversary. But when a mysterious tattoo appears on her skin (a distorted version of the heart Mya always wanted them to share) Kaylee is pulled into a grief-fueled journey that blurs the line between dream and nightmare, love and consumption, healing and possession.
"INK is a story about what happens when grief becomes something alive," says creator Jeff Schmidt. "It's about the specific terror of discovering that holding on doesn't preserve love. It corrupts it. It asks what it costs to finally let go of the one person you were never prepared to lose."
Fans of Black Swan, and Requiem for a Dream will recognize INK's unflinching psychological descent, while the Gothic atmosphere and body horror echo the visceral dread and surreal intimacy of the best contemporary audio fiction.
EPISODE RELEASE SCHEDULE:
Episode 1: February 26, 2026
Episode 2: March 12, 2026
Episode 3: March 26, 2026
Episode 4: April 9, 2026
Created, Written, Directed, and Sound Designed by JEFF SCHMIDT
Starring:
SYD KILROY as Kaylee
GRACIE LACEY as Mya
RACHEL ADDINGTON as Liv
CARA KLUVER as Syd
MILLY SANDERS as Aura
ANN SONNEVILLE as Markos
ALLISON COSSITT as The Nurse
RANDY THOMPSON as Zeke
KURT OBERHAUS as Corbin
MICHAEL URSU as The Driver
FAYE HOLIDAY as Denise
HANNAH TRAUSCHT as Anna
ROMY EVANS as Danica
AVAILABILITY:
OMINOUS THRILL: INK will be available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. The full, two hour, ad-free version is available to subscribers on Apple Podcasts and Patreon.
For more information, visit https://ominousthrill.com/
CONTENT WARNING: INK contains depictions of grief, violence, implied sexual assault, sexually explicit content, body horror, and psychological distress. Listener discretion is advised.
ABOUT OMINOUS THRILL: OMINOUS THRILL is a multi-award-winning, twice Ambie Award nominated audio fiction podcast that explores the intersection of psychological horror, surrealism, and human emotion. Created by Jeff Schmidt, the series is committed to ambitious storytelling that challenges audiences while honoring the communities and experiences it depicts.
PRESS CONTACT:
Jeff Schmidt
Jeff Schmidt Productions, LLC
jeff@jeff-schmidt.comINTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Creator Jeff Schmidt is available for interviews about INK's themes of grief and possession, the challenges of translating body horror to audio, and the elaborate sound design that brings the story's surreal world to life.
PRESS MATERIALS: High-resolution artwork, audio samples, and extended synopsis available upon request.