A24 announced on Tuesday that it has acquired North American rights to Peter Strickland’s acclaimed new horror flick “In Fabric.”
The film, which debuted as part of the Midnight Madness program in the Toronto International Film Festival, will make its U.S. premiere Thursday as part of Opening Night of Fantastic Fest.
Directed and written by Strickland, “In Fabric” is about a woman who buys a cursed gown from a strangely sinister department store outside of London, continues in the vein of the British filmmaker’s earlier psychological work.
A24 plans to release the film domestically in 2019.
“Peter Strickland is one of the most exciting and original filmmakers working today. He has a unique talent for making horror films that burrow deep into the back of your mind, films that are truly nightmarish: an uneasy mix of frightening, seductive, and funny,” A24 said in a statement. “With In Fabric, he’s taken his work to brilliant new heights and we can’t wait to share it with audiences.”
“In Fabric” stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hayley Squires, Leo Bill, Julian Barratt, Steve Oram, and Gwendoline Christie.
It tells the story of a lonely woman (Jean-Baptiste), recently separated from her husband, who visits a London department store in search of a dress that will transform her life. She’s fitted with a perfect, dark red gown that unleashes a malevolent curse and unstoppable evil, threatening everyone that comes into its path.
“I’m very excited to have ‘In Fabric’ distributed by A24. I love the films they’ve put out and their fearless approach to successfully finding an audience,” Strickland said in a statement. “‘In Fabric’ is in safe and loving hands with A24”
“In Fabric” will continue its festival run with screenings in competition at the San Sebastian International Film Festival next week and the BFI London Film Festival in October.
“In Fabric” was produced by Andy Starke, who also worked with Strickland on “The Duke of Burgundy,” and is executive produced by Rose Garnett, Lizzie Francke, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Stephen Kelliher, Hilary Davis, Andrew Boswell, Ben Wheatley, and Ian Benson.
The film was financed by BFI Film Fund, BBC Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology and Twickenham Studios. Bankside Films negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.
Strickland is represented by Ian Benson at The Agency and David Kopple at CAA.