Tensions are rising amongst inhabitants of a small town in the teaser trailer for the A24 film Eddington, from writer-director Ari Aster.

Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler star in the contemporary Western feature, which was recently announced to premiere next month at the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to releasing the trailer, A24 announced the movie was set to release in cinemas on July 18th.

In the film, which is set at the beginnings of the Covid-19 pandemic, a standoff between an ambitious small-town sheriff (Phoenix) and a mayor seeking re-election (Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico. Rounding out the cast are Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., William Belleau, Cameron Mann, Matt Gomez Hidaka and Amélie Hoeferle.

The tense teaser promises gun-toting violence, political machinations, and a healthy dose of anti-vax rhetoric in a horror-leaning Western.

Aster and Lars Knudsen produce for the banner Square Peg. A24 has been the home of all three of Aster’s previous feature films, beginning with Hereditary, Midsommar and most recently, Beau Is Afraid. The latter starred Phoenix in the lead role.

Watch the trailer for Eddington below: