The Trek: An Award-Winning South African Horror Premieres at Ster-Kinekor

South African film is leaning into the horror genre with the upcoming mainstream release of The Trek, a striking western-horror that revisits South Africa’s colonial past through atmosphere, myth and moral tension. The film is set during the 19th century and follows a Dutch-Afrikaans family and their British benefactor as they cross the Kalahari Desert to claim a piece of land they believe is theirs by right.

What begins as a journey of ambition soon unravels into a test of endurance, faith and survival. The film first debuted at the Joburg Film Festival in March of 2026 and has since been called “unbelievably stunning” and the work of “one of South Africa’s most daring new voices” by Variety.

The film’s trailer is available on YouTube.

What is The Trek about?

In 1846, the Uys family and their British benefactor make their journey across the rugged Kalahari Desert. Assisted by a mysterious Khoen stranger, the group navigate the harsh terrain with hunger and desperation while being stalked by something older and far more merciless than the desert itself.

The Trek was developed from 2020 onwards as a deliberate subversion of the traditional Western survival narrative. Inspired by Khoen folklore, the film imagines a mythology where the land itself responds to invasion and imbalance. Survival comes at a cost, and history is rewritten through fear, reckoning and resistance rather than triumph.

The making of a decolonial horror

Shot on location in South Africa’s Northern Cape, The Trek was forged under conditions that mirrored the story’s intensity. Principal photography took place over four weeks in Niewoudtville, a region defined by stark contrasts. “The beauty is overwhelming, but so is the hostility,” says director-cinematographer Meekaaeel Adam. “It allowed us to capture both awe and isolation in the same frame.”

The production demanded physical and technical endurance, from extreme weather to night shoots, stunts and animal handling. The film’s final act is set in a treacherous rocky fissure never before used as a filming location, requiring rope access, rigging teams and temporary road construction.

Producer James C. Williamson credits the resilience of the cast and crew for delivering under pressure. With a tight schedule and no room for compromise, the team relied on precision, trust and sheer resolve to bring the film to life.

Accolades and awards

The Trek‘s theatrical release follows a triumphant film festival tour with selections at Film at Lincoln Centre in New York City, Shanghai International Film Festival, Raindance in London and BIFAN in South Korea – as well as a Jury Prize win at Fantasporto in Portugal and a Best Cinematography win at Fantaspoa in Brazil.

The Trek film in Johannesburg | What's On in Joburg

More about The Department of Special Projects

The Department of Special Projects is a South African film production company that specialises in elevated genre films by breakout voices. Their projects thrive by prioritising the agency of our writers, directors and other key creatives – giving them the space to tell impactful stories with full artistic integrity.

The company produced debut features by top emerging South African directors, Ryan Kruger and Meekaaeel Adam, whose films went on to screen at festivals such as Fantasia, Sitges, IFFR and Fantasporto, and raking in awards by the SAFTAs, AMAAs and Sabela Awards.