Director: Pablo Absento
Cast: Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novaković, Sawyer Jones, Malcolm Fuller, Kane Kosugi
Bloat is a 2025 international horror film directed by Pablo Absento, following a family's terrifying ordeal after their young son nearly drowns and returns home fundamentally changed — haunted by something ancient and malevolent that lurks beneath the lake's surface.
What is Bloat about?
A family's lakeside retreat turns catastrophic when their son suffers a near-fatal drowning incident. He survives, but what comes back with him is not entirely the child they knew. Strange behaviors, disturbing outbursts, and an eerie calm signal that something has taken root inside him — a presence drawn from local legend, tied to the lake's dark history. The parents, desperate to reclaim their son, find themselves caught between disbelief and dread as the entity grows stronger, turning their home into a battleground. The family's bonds are tested as the thing inside the boy begins hunting those around it.
Cast & crew
The film stars Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novaković as the parents at the center of this nightmare, with young Sawyer Jones in the pivotal role of the possessed child. The supporting cast includes Malcolm Fuller, Kane Kosugi, Royce Johnson, David Gibson, and David Lavine. Pablo Absento directs from a script that draws on cross-cultural mythology, blending Japanese, French, and American genre traditions.
Context & significance
For Persian-speaking viewers in the diaspora, Bloat taps into a horror tradition that transcends Western conventions — its lake-demon mythology echoes folklore traditions familiar across Middle Eastern and Asian cultures, where bodies of water harbor spirits and ancient curses. The film's co-production across Japan, France, and the United States gives it an unusual multinational texture rarely seen in mainstream horror. Persian DUB is available, making it fully accessible without needing to read subtitles, and Persian SUBTITLES are also provided for those who prefer the original audio experience.
Where & how to watch
Bloat is available on K-Time with both Persian DUB and Persian SUBTITLES. Watch on the web, your TV, or your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, no extra download required. Subscribe and cancel anytime.