Three women are besieged by a sinister, unseen presence in Director Pedro Martin-Calero’s unsettling horror film, THE WAILING. In the vein of It Follows and the chilling stories of Argentinian writer Mariana Enríquez, Film Movement today announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to the festival favorite that garnered Martin-Calero the Silver Seashell for Best Director at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, as well as a Goya nomination. THE WAILING is slated for a theatrical release in 2025, to be followed by a release to all leading digital platforms and the home entertainment marketplace. The announcement was made by Michael Rosenberg, President, Film Movement and Vicente Canales, Managing Director of Film Factory Entertainment.
In THE WAILING, something seems to be haunting Andrea (Ester Expósito), but no one, not even she herself, knows what it is. Twenty years ago, and a world away, the same terrifying presence terrorized Marie (Mathilde Olliver). Camila (Malena Villa) was the only person who could understand what was happening to her, but no one believed them. When faced by this oppressive threat, all three hear the same thing: a terrifying wailing. Shot as a non-linear narrative, the Official Selection at Sitges, BFI London, Tokyo and Palm Springs that was also nominated for Best Film at San Sebastian, earned critical accolades from around the globe. Jonathan Romney of Screen Daily says the film is “a cleverly constructed, visually honed, female-centered three-parter that draws viewers into its labyrinth with absolute confidence….”, Julia Olmo of Cineuropa calls it “unsettling, cryptic and disturbing” and “a contemporary feminist horror” and Victor Fraga of Dirty Movies writes “the jump scares are…effective and the acting is top notch”.
“For his first feature-length film, Pedro really turns the horror genre on it head, creating something that is wholly original, deeply thought-provoking and rich with atmosphere,” says Rosenberg. “Between the superb turns from the trio of female leads and surprising narrative twists and turns, North American audiences are sure to leave the theater thinking about The Wailing for a long time.”
In addition to the acquisition of THE WAILING, Film Movement has also recently acquired Sean Devlin’s ASOG, executive produced by Adam McKay, Alan Cumming and Joel Kim Booster, Sook-Yin Lee’s PAYING FOR IT, based on alternative-cartoonist Chester Brown’s best-selling graphic novel, HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Oscar nominee Scandar Copti, Leonardo Van Dijl’s tennis drama JULIE KEEPS QUIET, which debuted in Critic’s Week at the Cannes Film Festival and was Belgium’s Official Oscar Entry for Best International Film, AN UNFINISHED FILM, directed by Lou Ye, which recently won the top prizes at the Golden Horse Film Festival, THE SPARROW IN THE CHIMNEY, the latest provocative family drama from the Zürcher brothers, which premiered in Locarno, and MY SUNSHINE, Japanese director Hiroshi Okuyama’s touching Cannes Un Certain Regard drama. Current releases include the restored 4K version of Jim McKay’s 1996 landmark film GIRLS TOWN from McKay and IndieCollect, and the acclaimed Cuban/Italian co-production OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS, directed by Tommaso Santambrogio.
