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IFC Midnight takes home-invasion psychothriller “BARBARIANS”

Wednesday, January 12, 2022 | News

By MICHAEL GINGOLD

You’ll be able to witness a couple’s dream home becoming a nightmare in April.

IFC Midnight has announced its acquisition of North American rights to BARBARIANS, with a theatrical/VOD release slotted for April 1. Charles Dorfman, whose producing credits include the RABID remake, VFW and BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL, makes his directorial debut from his own script, and the cast is headed by Iwan Rheon, Tom Cullen, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Inès Spiridonov, Connor Swindells, Tommy McDonnell and Will Kemp. The synopsis: “Set over the course of 24 hours, BARBARIANS sees couple Adam [Rheon] and Eva [Moreno] wake up in their supposed dream house on Adam’s birthday. Lucas [Cullen], property developer and friend of the couple, arrives for dinner with his actress girlfriend Chloe [Spiridonov], to celebrate Adam’s birthday and the couple’s buying of the house. But secrets unravel over dinner, and when the doorbell rings the evening takes a nightmarish turn. As manners give way to madness, an ‘idyllic’ evening of celebration descends into a dark night of terror; and the group’s civilized dinner party turns out to be anything but.”

“BARBARIANS is a brilliant character study with havoc-wreaking performances,” says IFC Films president Arianna Bocco, “and an innovative take on the home-invasion thriller that continually serves to surprise. We’re thrilled to partner with Charles Dorfman on his directorial debut and his sharply written script that will remind audiences of the barbaric spirit within us all.” Adds Dorfman, “IFC Films has a strong reputation for partnering with fantastic filmmakers, so I am thrilled to partner with them for the U.S. release of BARBARIANS. I couldn’t be more delighted that the film has found a home with their team.”

Michael Gingold
Michael Gingold (RUE MORGUE's Head Writer) has been covering the world of horror cinema for over three decades, and in addition to his work for RUE MORGUE, he has been a longtime writer and editor for FANGORIA magazine and its website. He has also written for BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH, SCREAM, IndieWire.com, TIME OUT, DELIRIUM, MOVIEMAKER and others. He is the author of the AD NAUSEAM books (1984 Publishing) and THE FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO MONSTER MOVIES (FAB Press), and he has contributed documentaries, featurettes and liner notes to numerous Blu-rays, including the award-winning feature-length doc TWISTED TALE: THE UNMAKING OF "SPOOKIES" (Vinegar Syndrome).