Tubi is stepping deeper into the horror space with Hive, a chilling psychological thriller that transforms something as innocent as a playground into a nightmare. Ahead of its premiere, director Felipe Vargas and stars Xochitl Gomez and Aaron Dominguez sat down with Entertainment Affair’s Raffael Alejandro to break down the eerie inspiration behind the film, the emotional layers within the horror, and the importance of Latino representation on screen.

At its core, Hive follows a strict, anxious teen babysitter whose routine job spirals into chaos when the child she’s watching suddenly disappears. What begins as a frantic search quickly turns into something far more sinister, as she realizes a dark force may be hiding in plain sight—among the children themselves. The result is a tense, psychological descent where reality begins to blur and survival depends on questioning everything.

For Vargas, the idea was rooted in something surprisingly personal. Drawing from his own experiences working with kids, the filmmaker revealed that the film’s unsettling premise came from a real-life playground. “There was this really eerie playground with a massive tube slide,” he shared. “That became the seed of it—what if something was hiding there, something insidious among the children?”

That grounded inspiration helps Hive feel especially unnerving, turning everyday spaces into something unpredictable and dangerous. But beneath the horror, the film also explores deeper emotional and cultural themes—something that resonated strongly with Gomez.

Taking on the lead role, Gomez described one of the film’s most unexpected acting challenges: building an emotional connection with something as simple as candy. Without another actor to play off, she leaned into personal memories to bring authenticity to the moment. “It was about creating intimacy with something that isn’t a person,” she explained. “So I had to pull from my own childhood to make it real.”

That idea of memory and identity runs throughout the film, subtly tying into cultural roots and family connections. Vargas intentionally incorporated elements like childhood treats to evoke nostalgia while also amplifying unease. It’s a small detail that adds a surprising emotional layer to the horror.

Beyond the scares, Hive also touches on themes of visibility and identity—particularly within the Latino experience. Gomez spoke about how meaningful it was to portray a character who refuses to fade into the background. “It’s rare to get a lead role like this in horror,” she said. “And knowing the story included Latino siblings made it even more important for me to be part of it.”

Dominguez echoed that sentiment, reflecting on how the film mirrors generational experiences for many Latinos in the United States. He noted how earlier generations were often encouraged to blend in, while today’s landscape is shifting toward embracing identity more openly. “It’s about not being invisible,” he shared. “And realizing that sometimes following the rules can hold you back.”

That dynamic plays out between the siblings in Hive, adding another layer to the tension as the characters navigate both external horror and internal conflict.

Visually, the film also leans into what Vargas describes as “horror choreography.” From the camera movement to the physicality of the performances, every element was designed to feel fluid and unsettling. The children themselves add to that effect in unexpected ways. “A lot of them were gymnasts and acrobats,” Vargas revealed. “What they do on screen—it’s creepy.”

For Gomez, experiencing those moments firsthand was genuinely startling. Seeing the young performers move in eerie, synchronized ways brought an authenticity to the fear that couldn’t be faked.

Blending psychological horror with themes of family, identity, and perception, Hive is shaping up to be a standout entry in Tubi’s growing original slate. It’s a film that doesn’t just rely on scares—it lingers, tapping into the fear of losing control in places that are supposed to feel safe.

Hive premieres exclusively on Tubi on April 17, 2026.