SHUDDER Picks Up "Dementia-Doll" Thriller "THE RULE OF JENNY PEN" Ahead Of Fantastic Fest Premiere!
We are just one week away from Fantastic Fest In Austin, TX, and already news is coming out about acquisitions. As the film festival season begins the wind-down as fall descends upon us, we expect to see even more news about films getting picked up for 2025 release or even sooner. Genre titan and fan favorite, Shudder has had one helluva 2024 with major releases like “Late Night With The Devil”, “in A Violent Nature” and “Oddity” to name a few and it looks like their good curation will continue into 2025 with their newest pickup “The Rule of Jenny Pen.”
Check out the press release below for more details, and we hope to bring you a review of “The Rule of Jenny Pen” whilst we are attending Fantastic Fest next week!
From The Press Release
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that they have acquired the rights to THE RULE OF JENNY PEN, directed by James Ashcroft and co-written by Eli Kent and Ashcroft, and starring John Lithgow (DEXTER, THE CROWN) and Geoffrey Rush (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, THE KING’S SPEECH). The rights will cover North America, UK and Ireland. The film follows Ashcroft’s acclaimed feature debut COMING HOME IN THE DARK, which world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. THE RULE OF JENNY PEN will world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024 later this month, and will debut on the streamer in 2025.
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN follows arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), who suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to the staff and distant from his friendly roommate, Mortensen soon clashes with seemingly gentle resident Dave Crealy (Lithgow) who secretly terrorizes the home with a sadistic game called "The Rule of Jenny Pen” while wielding his dementia doll as an instrument of cruelty. What begins as childish torment quickly escalates into far more sinister and disturbing incidents. When Mortensen's pleas to the staff go unanswered, he takes it upon himself to put an end to Crealy's reign of terror.
“Working with two of my acting heroes, Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow, was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Partnering with Shudder and opening Fantastic Fest 2024 is just the stick of cinematic dynamite with which I wanted to launch this film into the world. It's humbling to be part of a festival whose legacy of premieres include THERE WILL BE BLOOD, ANTICHRIST and SMILE, and I cannot wait to share the incredible work of our cast and crew with their audiences,” said director James Ashcroft. “Shudder has always been groundbreaking in genre cinema, passionately committed to the vision of the filmmaker; I can think of no better home for THE RULE OF JENNY PEN.”
SVP of Acquisitions and Production for Shudder Emily Gotto commented, “We have been fans of James Ashcroft since his chilling debut COMING HOME IN THE DARK premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, showcasing his undeniable talent. His sharp eye for deeply observed characters and tragic circumstances explores the darkest corners of humanity with visceral thrills, and coupled with unforgettable performances from John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush, THE RULE OF JENNY PEN is a film that will linger with you long after viewing.”
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN is produced by Catherine Fitzgerald and Orlando Stewart, and executive produced by Ashcroft, Eli Kent, John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, and Shudder’s Emily Gotto, Nicholas Lazo and Samuel Zimmerman.
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