The Sundance Film Festival (the last to be held in Park City, Utah) is well underway, and studios are willing to shell out big money to scoop up some of the movies. According to Deadline, two films are attracting significant attention at Sundance: Leviticus, a horror thriller from writer/director Adrian Chiarella, and The Invite, a relationship comedy from director Olivia Wilde, who also stars.
Neon is Going After Leviticus
Neon is reportedly in exclusive talks to acquire Leviticus, with the deal said to be valued at around $5 million. The horror thriller follows a teenage boy (Joe Bird) who’s been relocated by his mother to a devoutly Christian community and begins to realize there’s a supernatural force terrorizing many of the town’s teens. The film also marks the return of Mia Wasikowska, who has been largely absent from the big screen for the past three years.
In his review, our own Chris Bumbray said, “Leviticus feels like the kind of horror film that has a strong chance of being snapped up by a major distributor, as it will no doubt be much discussed once it’s released. It taps into the current zeitgeist in a very real way and seems like one of those indie horror movies bound to break through, like other Aussie-helmed horror films have in previous editions of the festival.” You can check out the rest of his thoughts right here.
Netflix, A24 & More Want The Invite
As for The Invite, the film is attracting attention from a handful of potential buyers, including A24, Netflix, Searchlight, Focus Features, Black Bear, and Neon. The bids have reportedly exceeded $10 million. The film follows a bickering married couple (Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde) who invite their new neighbours (Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz) over for a low-key dinner, only for it to devolve into a night of revelations that may end their fragile union for good.
Bumbray also caught The Invite at Sundance and had a lot of fun, saying it’s “genuinely hilarious, especially once the topic of sexuality is broached,” but “it’s not all bawdy humor—there’s real emotional catharsis here too. Given the standing ovation I witnessed after the screening, the film seems bound to walk away from the festival with a strong distribution deal, meaning a major release should be forthcoming.” Be sure to read the rest of his review.
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