Breaking Glass Pictures announces the July 14 digital release of Mouser, the unsettling new psychological horror film from writer-director Mary Gallagher. Blending supernatural terror, surreal imagery, and an emotionally charged exploration of mental illness, Mouser will be available globally on major streaming platforms.

Mouser follows Eleanor, a mentally ill young woman struggling to maintain stability as she attempts to rebuild her life. After attending a party and meeting the charming Ian, a hopeful new connection quickly spirals into something far darker. Following a night of drinking, Eleanor begins experiencing vivid encounters with a sinister talking cat named Mouser, a mysterious figure who appears to exert an unsettling influence over her actions. As dreams, hallucinations, and reality begin to collide, Eleanor is pulled into a violent and increasingly surreal nightmare that culminates in a shocking confrontation—only to discover the nightmare may not be over.

For Gallagher, the film grew out of a fascination with the fragile boundary between reality and perception. “I’ve always been fascinated with the fine line between reality and what exists in our minds,” she says. “In Mouser, I wanted to tell the story of a woman whose reality is constantly challenged by visions of a demonic cat, creating a world where neither she nor the audience can be completely certain what reality is.”

At the center of the film is Mouser himself: a campy, flamboyant, yet undeniably terrifying creature inspired in part by Bert Lahr’s iconic Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.  “Mouser began as a supernatural presence but evolved into a symbol of temptation, fear, and the darker impulses that can influence us,” Gallagher explains. “I wanted him to exist somewhere between a demonic entity and a manifestation of Eleanor’s inner struggles and turmoil.”

Using carefully orchestrated lighting, sound design, visual effects, and immersive cinematography, Gallagher and her creative team intentionally blurred the boundaries between dreams, hallucinations, and reality.  “We wanted the different layers of Eleanor’s experience to flow together.  The goal was to keep audiences questioning what is actually happening alongside her.”

Beyond its supernatural scares, Mouser examines the destructive power of unresolved trauma and fear.  “I wanted to explore how fear and unresolved trauma can influence our choices,” Gallagher continues. “The film suggests that our greatest struggles are often internal, and if we ignore them, that can be just as dangerous as any supernatural threat.”