Sony Pictures is bringing the psychological horror video game Mouthwashing to the big screen, with The Black Phone filmmaker Scott Derrickson producing and Jennifer’s Body director Karyn Kusama attached to direct.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony has acquired the feature film rights to Mouthwashing, an indie game that was developed by Wrong Organ and published by Critical Reflex. Derrickson will produce alongside C. Robert Cargill and Vince Cheng under their Crooked Highway banner, which has a producing deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to make feature films for Screen Gems.
Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay will write the screenplay, reuniting with Kusama after their collaborations on the psychological horror film The Invitation (2015) and the thriller Destroyer (2018).
What Is Mouthwashing About?
Mouthwashing follows five crew members stranded aboard the space freighter Tulpar, which crash lands on an asteroid. Dwindling supplies, isolation and mounting paranoia expose the fractures between the crew.
Released on PC in 2024, Mouthwashing earned critical acclaim for its unsettling atmosphere and storytelling. The game received an 88 score on Metacritic and “overwhelmingly positive” user reviews on Steam. It also won in the Best Narrative and Players’ Choice categories at the Horror Game Awards, as well as Best Hidden Gem at the New York Game Awards.
The game has sold nearly one million units on PC. According to the studio, Mouthwashing content has generated 63 million views on YouTube and nearly one billion views on TikTok.
Who Is Making the Mouthwashing Movie?
Kusama’s directing credits include Jennifer’s Body, The Invitation, and Destroyer, and she has recently directed episodes of Yellowjackets and The Terror.
Derrickson, meanwhile, has established himself as a major name in contemporary horror through films including Sinister and The Black Phone. His most recent directing credits include Black Phone 2 and The Gorge, both released in 2025.
Manfredi and Hay have also worked on films including Clash of the Titans and the Ride Along movies. Their reunion with Kusama on Mouthwashing brings together a creative team with experience in psychological thrillers and genre filmmaking.
When Will Mouthwashing Be Released?
No release date or cast has been announced for the Mouthwashing movie. The film announcement coincides with the video game’s expansion beyond PC. Mouthwashing is now available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, as well as Xbox on PC. The game is also available through Game Pass on console and PC.
With Kusama directing, Derrickson producing and Manfredi and Hay writing, Mouthwashing has assembled a notable horror filmmaking team to bring its disturbing story of isolation, paranoia, and fractured relationships to the big screen. Does this sound like an interesting project to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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