Saw writers crafting holiday horror movie for Platinum Dunes

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Silent Night Deadly Night Linnea Quigley

Sony has acquired a horror pitch from screenwriting duo Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, and the production company that will be bringing the idea to the screen for the studio is Platinum Dunes, the company that was behind the remakes/reboots of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE HITCHER, FRIDAY THE 13TH, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES in addition to original films like THE UNBORN and A QUIET PLACE (they also produce the OUIJA and THE PURGE films with Blumhouse).

Details on the project have yet to be revealed. All we know at this point is that it's being referred to as the "Untitled Holiday Movie" and is said to be in the vein of SCREAM and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. This vague information is enough to stir up hope that it's going to be a Christmas slasher movie. 

Visions of SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (pictured above) dance in my head.

Melton and Dunstan's previous writing credits include the FEAST trilogy, four of the SAW sequels (beginning with SAW IV), THE COLLECTOR, THE COLLECTION, THE NEIGHBOR, and PIRANHA 3DD. Dunstan has also directed THE COLLECTOR, THE COLLECTION, and THE NEIGHBOR.

Not long ago, Melton and Dunstan were writing a HALLOWEEN sequel titled HALLOWEEN RETURNS, which Dunstan was going to direct. That project fell apart when Dimension lost the rights to the HALLOWEEN franchise, paving the way for the Blumhouse HALLOWEEN that's coming to theatres this October.

We'll keep you updated as we learn more about this holiday horror project.

Source: Deadline

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.