Vertical Entertainment has acquired US rights to Ben Jagger’s (Gravitas Venture’s Corbin Nash, The Paddy Lincoln Gang) highly anticipated J-horror film Room 203 from Voltage Pictures.
Vertical Entertainment will release the film theatrically and on demand. Peter Jarowey and Tony Piantedosi of Vertical Entertainment negotiated the deal with Jonathan Deckter of Voltage Pictures on behalf of the Ammo Inc and Ammo Entertainment, who produced and financed the film.
“We’re thrilled to be venturing into the J-horror genre with Room 203 and hope to do the original Japanese novel justice through a theatrical retelling of the tale,” said Tony Piantedosi, SVP of Acquisitions at Vertical Entertainment.
“The J-horror genre has produced some of the most iconic and successful horror films of the past 20 years, and we’re glad our friends at Vertical agree that Room 203 absolutely delivers on the well-crafted thrills of its predecessors,” said Jonathan Deckter, President and COO, Voltage Pictures. “We know they will extract the full potential of this formidable film.”
Adapted from Nanami Kamon’s Japanese novel published by Kobunsha, the English-language J-Horror follows two female roommates who are tormented by the vengeful spirits dwelling in their gothic-style, rented apartment, which contains an ornate centerpiece.
The cult genre, also known as Japanese Horror, is identified by its suspenseful, folk-religious themes and focus on psychological horror, and its English-language remakes have gone on to become global box office phenomenons: The Ring starring Naomi Watts took over $250m worldwide, and The Grudge starring Sarah Michelle Gellar took over $187m worldwide.
The screenplay is by John Poliquin (Shudder’s Spiral), Jagger and Nick Richey (Low Low). The cast features rising talent Francesca Xuereb (Murmur, Forever & Always), Viktoria Vinyarska (“The Real Drakoolvas”, Highway to Havasu) and Eric Wiegand (Hulu’s Outsiders, “Boys Will Be Bastards”).
Room 203 is produced by Ammo Entertainment’s Annmarie Sairrino and Ammo Inc.’s Moeko Suzuki, alongside Kat McPhee, Ben Anderson and Eric Gibson. Voltage’s Babacar Diene is executive producer.
