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Dear David

Dear David is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by John McPhail and based on Adam Ellis’s viral Twitter thread of the same name.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dear David is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by John McPhail and based on Adam Ellis’s viral Twitter thread of the same name. It stars Augustus Prew as Ellis, with Andrea Bang, René Escobar Jr., Cameron Nicoll, and Justin Long in supporting roles. The film was released in theaters and on digital platforms by Lionsgate on October 13, 2023.

Premise

The story follows Adam Ellis after he responds to online trolls and begins experiencing increasingly disturbing hauntings tied to a spirit called David. The film blends internet culture with supernatural horror elements.

Cast and production

Augustus Prew stars as Adam Ellis, with Andrea Bang, René Escobar Jr., Cameron Nicoll, and Justin Long in supporting roles. The film was produced by BuzzFeed Studios and related partners, and directed by John McPhail.

Release

Dear David was released in the United States on October 13, 2023, in theaters and on digital and streaming platforms through Lionsgate. It was also made available through other home-viewing formats around the same time.

Reception

Available sources describe the film’s reception as negative. Reviews generally characterized it as lacking originality and effective scares.

Key facts

  • The film adapts Adam Ellis’s viral Twitter ghost-story thread.
  • Augustus Prew portrays Ellis, a BuzzFeed employee and cartoonist in the story.
  • The plot centers on a haunting involving a demon-possessed spirit and internet trolling.
  • John McPhail directed the film from a screenplay by Mike Van Waes.
  • Lionsgate released the film theatrically and digitally on October 13, 2023.
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Canadian context

Canadian sources and platforms may list the film with Canadian availability metadata, but the film itself is an American production with no clear Canada-specific subject focus in the available sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dear David?
Dear David is a 2023 American supernatural horror film adapted from Adam Ellis’s viral Twitter thread.
Who directed Dear David?
The film was directed by John McPhail.
Who plays Adam Ellis in the film?
Augustus Prew plays Adam Ellis.
What is Dear David based on?
It is based on the Twitter thread 'Dear David' by Adam Ellis.
When was Dear David released?
It was released on October 13, 2023.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_David
    Supports: Identification of the film, year, director, cast, plot, production company, distributor, and release date.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dear_david_2023
    Supports: Synopsis, director, screenplay, distributor, production companies, rating, genre, runtime, and release date.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9288740/
    Supports: Genre, release date, and basic premise.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dear-david-movie-review-2023
    Supports: Plot details and reception context.