RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have acquired the North American rights to the horror film, Seance.
Known for writing some of the most revered horror films over the past decade, Simon Barrett (You’re Next, The Guest) wrote the screenplay of Seance and makes his feature-length directorial debut with the film.
Seance stars Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Madisen Beaty (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ella-Rae Smith (Into the Badlands, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Inanna Sarkis (Boo 2! A Madea Halloween), Seamus Patterson (Channel Zero) and Marina Stephenson-Kerr (Channel Zero).
“We’re so excited to finally be working with the amazingly talented writer and director of Seance, Simon Barrett,” said Mark Ward, Chief Acquisitions Officer at RLJE Films. “Following the ever growing success of his previous work on You’re Next and The Guest, we can’t wait to share Seance with audiences.”
In Seance, Camille Meadows (Waterhouse) is the new girl at the prestigious Edelvine Academy for Girls. Soon after her arrival, six girls invite her to join them in a late-night ritual, calling forth the spirit of a dead former student who reportedly haunts their halls. But before morning, one of the girls is dead, leaving the others wondering what they may have awakened.
“The Shudder team are big fans of Simon Barrett’s work as a screenwriter, so we leapt at the chance to be the streaming home for his directorial debut,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s General Manager. “We know our members will be chilled and delighted by what Barrett has crafted with Seance.”
Seance is a Dark Castle Entertainment Production in association with Addictive Pictures that was funded by Ingenious Media, Dark Castle Entertainment and HanWay Films. The film was produced by Alex Mace (Orphan), Matt Baker (Black Death), John Schoenfelder (Capone), Russell Ackerman (Hold the Dark), Tomas “Dutch” Deckaj (Capone), and Isaac Clements (Silent Night). Executive Producers are Daryl Katz, Chloe Katz, and Hal Sadoff of Dark Castle and Peter Watson and Marie-Gabrielle Stewart of HanWay. Additional executive producers include Daniel Negret and Andrea Scarso. Ward and Jess De Leo from RLJE Films as well as Emily Gotto from Shudder negotiated the deal with CAA and Dark Castle Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers for North America, with HanWay Films handling Shudder sales for UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m thrilled that Seance has found a home with RLJE Films and Shudder, who are at the vanguard of releasing unique and original genre films. Both companies clearly respect and understand horror fans, for whom Seance was made,” said Barrett.
RLJE Films plans to release the film in theaters, On Demand and Digital on May 21, 2021 and Shudder will premiere the film on its platform later in the year.
