EXCLUSIVE: David Arquette (Scream franchise) is returning to the summer slasher genre in Kill Or Be Killed alongside rising Canadian actress Alisha Newton (Heartland).
The project heralds from writer Nick Zigler, whose credits include the Chucky and Purge TV series, and director David Straiton (Narcos). Producer is Other Animal Entertainment (Poor Agnes).
The synopsis reads: “School’s out, and recent grad Dani (Alisha Newton) and her friends are ready for one last summer blowout. But when a senior’s mutilated body is discovered on the high school football field – killed in a disturbingly theatrical fashion – it’s clear that someone is playing by a new set of rules. A red envelope pinned to the corpse contains a yearbook photo and a chilling directive: “Kill or Be Killed”. As the bodies pile up, Dani and her friends are thrust into a terrifying game, orchestrated by a sick killer, that transcends their small town and soon goes viral.”
Architect have launched worldwide sales ahead of the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin with the aim to shoot this summer.
A veteran of five Scream films, Arquette recently starred in western The Unholy Trinity with Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson. Actress Newton is best known for her roles in Netflix series My Life with the Walter Boys and long-running CBC series Heartland.
“Kill or Be Killed captures the magic that made the golden era of slashers so iconic,” said Ryan Keller, producer at Other Animal. “It brings a fresh, pulse-pounding experience that resonates with today’s audiences while honoring the genre’s storied past. The viral nature of the killer’s game speaks to audiences worldwide, while the primal struggle for survival resonates in any language.”
David Straiton added: “The summer slasher is all about freedom and fear colliding – there’s nothing quite like it. It’s the perfect time to redefine the genre and challenge audiences with something both thrilling and unexpected.”
The film’s heads of department include director of photography Yaron Levy (Saw) and production designer Peter Bohdal (Beacon 23). Also among the team is Cousin Jones, the production division of Buddha Jones, the advertising and marketing agency that worked on the trailers and campaigns for films such as 28 Years Later, IT, Nope, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Cousin Jones executive and founder John Long will act as executive producer. Long was previously executive producer for the Lionsgate release Fall, consulting on all aspects of production as well as producing all marketing materials, including a teaser that generated millions of views online.
“Kill or Be Killed celebrates the best of a ‘summer slasher’ – a thrilling slice of outrageous, totally fun escapism that will have audiences peeking out from behind their fingers as the kill count rises. Would you kill, or be killed?”, said Calum Gray at Architect
