Fans of Days of Our Lives, get ready—because one of Salem’s most beloved young stars is stepping back into the spotlight, and this time, he’s venturing into darker, more daring territory than ever before.

Zack Tinker, best known to daytime audiences as the emotionally layered and endlessly charming Sonny Kiriakis, is about to send shivers down your spine in his latest role. Tinker,

who won hearts across the globe with his warmth and intensity on Days of Our Lives, is trading soap opera romance for psychological terror in his brand-new film Beneath the Light, set to premiere on October 14, 2025.

This project marks a thrilling new chapter for the actor—one that blends haunting suspense with emotional depth, proving that Tinker’s range extends far beyond Salem’s tangled web of love and deceit.

Zack Tinker’s Bold New Chapter

For years, Zack Tinker’s portrayal of Sonny Kiriakis defined compassion, loyalty, and resilience in Days of Our Lives. His heartfelt performances through heartbreak, family feuds, and triumphs made him a fixture in Salem’s ever-turbulent world. But as Beneath the Light proves, Tinker is ready to step out of his comfort zone and dive headfirst into the unknown.

This time, he’s not navigating family secrets or forbidden love—he’s battling his own sanity. Beneath the Light transports him from Salem’s cozy streets to a storm-battered, isolated lighthouse that harbors secrets as old as the sea itself. It’s a bold departure from daytime drama, and insiders are calling this performance “the most haunting and career-defining role of Tinker’s life.”

Inside the Chilling Story of Beneath the Light

Imagine a lighthouse perched on the edge of a crumbling cliff, surrounded by an endless storm that never seems to cease. It’s here that Tinker’s character, a troubled young man seeking redemption, takes on a solitary job repairing the decaying beacon. What starts as a quest for peace quickly devolves into a descent into madness.

When his overseer mysteriously vanishes, Tinker’s character is left utterly alone. But solitude soon turns sinister. Strange whispers echo through the halls, ghostly lights flicker in impossible patterns, and the shadows seem to move of their own accord. As isolation tightens its grip, reality begins to fracture.

Is the lighthouse haunted? Or is the real horror buried deep within his mind?

That’s the gripping question at the heart of Beneath the Light. As the story unfolds, Tinker’s character unravels emotionally and psychologically, haunted by the ghosts of his past and by an unseen force that may—or may not—be real. The film blurs the lines between sanity and delusion, leaving audiences breathless until the very end.

A Masterclass in Psychological Horror

Unlike typical horror films that rely on jump scares and gore, Beneath the Light is a slow-burn psychological thriller that gets under your skin. It’s a study in fear, guilt, and the haunting consequences of loneliness.

Director Elliot Cray, known for his atmospheric visual style, transforms the lighthouse into more than just a setting—it becomes a living, breathing character. Every creaking floorboard, every gust of wind, and every flicker of light adds to the suffocating tension. The film’s color palette—icy blues and muted grays—mirrors the protagonist’s crumbling state of mind.

“The lighthouse represents the human psyche,” Cray explained in a recent interview. “It’s both a refuge and a prison. Zack’s performance captures that duality perfectly. You see a man desperately clinging to light even as darkness consumes him.”

Zack Tinker’s Transformation

For Days of Our Lives fans accustomed to seeing Zack Tinker in tender, heartfelt scenes, his transformation in Beneath the Light will be both shocking and mesmerizing. Gone is the steady, kind-hearted Sonny. In his place stands a man unraveling, confronting the demons of isolation, trauma, and self-doubt.

Early reviews from private screenings have praised Tinker’s performance as “unsettlingly powerful.” Critics highlight his ability to convey fear and vulnerability without words—relying on subtle expressions, haunted eyes, and moments of silence that speak louder than any scream.

Tinker reportedly immersed himself fully in the role, spending weeks researching the psychological toll of isolation. He even lived alone near the film’s coastal set to understand the loneliness and claustrophobia that define the story. The result? A performance that is raw, haunting, and deeply human.

“Zack’s portrayal is unforgettable,” one crew member shared. “You don’t just watch his descent—you feel it.”

Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Darkness

Filmed on location along the rugged Pacific coast, Beneath the Light captures the eerie beauty of isolation. The production team faced real-life challenges, battling high winds and relentless waves to achieve authenticity. But the effort paid off—the stormy backdrop and the genuine 19th-century lighthouse create an atmosphere that feels both cinematic and terrifyingly real.

Sound design plays a crucial role in the film’s psychological impact. Every crashing wave, whisper of wind, and rhythmic hum of the lighthouse lantern contributes to the growing unease. The score, composed by Lydia Vaughan, uses minimalist tones and haunting melodies to keep audiences on edge.

Tinker’s scenes—often performed alone—required immense focus and stamina. According to the director, “He carried the film almost entirely on his own shoulders. Every emotion, every fear—we see it play out on his face. It’s a one-man tour de force.”

A Defining Moment for a Rising Star

Beneath the Light isn’t just a new project—it’s a reinvention. For Zack Tinker, this role cements his evolution from daytime heartthrob to serious film actor capable of tackling complex, psychologically rich material.

Fans who watched him grow on Days of Our Lives will see familiar traces of his emotional intensity, but this performance goes even deeper. It’s brave, stripped down, and painfully real. If early buzz is any indication, Beneath the Light could position Tinker as one of the most compelling young actors of his generation.

Why This Film Matters

Beyond its haunting visuals and spine-tingling suspense, Beneath the Light explores universal human fears—loneliness, guilt, and the fragility of the mind. It’s a reflection on how easily our thoughts can betray us and how isolation can twist even the most stable soul.

In a world where many people have faced their own battles with solitude and anxiety, Tinker’s performance resonates on a deeply personal level. His journey from light to darkness becomes a metaphor for the human struggle to stay grounded when the world feels like it’s slipping away.

The Countdown Begins

Mark your calendars—Beneath the Light premieres October 14, 2025, just in time to set the tone for the Halloween season. It will be available for streaming across major platforms in the U.S. and Canada, with select theater screenings in major cities.

Fans can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, cast interviews, and sneak peeks leading up to the release. Tinker himself has teased that the film “will challenge everything you think you know about fear.”

So, Days of Our Lives fans, prepare yourselves. Your favorite young star has left Salem’s drama behind for something much darker—and far more unforgettable. When the light flickers and the shadows stretch long, you’ll find Zack Tinker waiting… beneath the light.