Vertical has acquired North American, UK/Ireland, AU/NZ, and South African rights to writer/director Jessica Kozak's debut THE WILD.
Starring Sunita Mani (GLOW, You Hurt My Feelings), Kate Easton (A Thousand Tomorrows), Kayla Foster (Your Monster), Danny Deferrari (Oppenheimer, Shiva Baby), Becca Q. Co (Replacing Chef Chico), and Adam Faison (Hellraiser, Everything's Gonna Be Okay), the film is set for release in select theaters and On Demand everywhere March 7, 2025.
In THE WILD, the tragic death of their best friend Bea (Co) has splintered longtime friends Emilia (Mani), Finn (Easton), and Lucey (Foster), until Emilia convinces them to go on their annual camping trip to reconnect. But once they are alone in the woods, things grow increasingly strange and distrust blossoms in the isolated forest. They begin to suspect each other of terrible things, forcing them to call into question their friendship and own morality.
Writer-Director Jessica Kozak commented, "I really love examining the horrors in everyday relationships, so THE WILD allowed me to explore what happens when friendships begin to unravel as questions and distrust permeate throughout the entire group. Creating this dread and unease that escalates when your place of safety turns into a place of danger was fascinating and fun for me."
"We're thrilled to be working with Kayla Foster again. The whole production team, led by writer/director Jessica Kozak, has created a creepy, intense film that fans of the genre will devour," added Tony Piantedosi, Vertical's SVP of Acquisitions.
The film was produced by Shannon Reilly, Chelsea Davenport, and Kimberly Hwang. Easton, Foster, Mani, and Bob Potter executive produced. Additional below-the-line talent includes director of photography Eli Born, production designer Jenna Rae Tooley, editor Yu Jung Hou, costume designer Kelly Broderick, make-up designer Kenneth Calhoun, and casting by Kate Geller with music by Ben Gunning.
The deal was negotiated by Piantedosi and Rachel White on behalf of Vertical and by Bob Potter on behalf of the filmmakers.
ABOUT VERTICAL Founded in 2012, Vertical has become a leading global independent distributor releasing films across all mediums. Vertical's unique combination of full-service marketing and highly effective sales services provides collaborative solutions for filmmakers, as the company leverages creative and platform relationships to maximize revenue streams from all content providers.
Vertical’s current and upcoming slate includes TIFF 2024 and Venice International FF 2024 selection The Order from director Justin Kurzel and starring Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan and Jurnee Smollett; director George Nolfi’s sci-fi thriller Elevation starring Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin; Caroline Lindy’s Your Monster which stars Melissa Barrera and Tommy Dewey and had its World Premiere at Sundance 2024; In The Lost Lands directed by Paul W.S. Anderson based on George R.R. Martin’s short story and starring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista; 2024 Tribeca selection Sacramento starring Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine penned and directed by Angarano; and TIFF 2023 selection Lee, directed by Ellen Kuras and starring Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgård and Marion Cotillard.
Past Vertical releases include The Exorcism directed by Joshua John Miller and starring Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Chloe Bailey and Sam Worthington; TIFF 2023 selection Poolman, written, directed by and starring Chris Pine alongside Danny DeVito and Annette Bening from producers Patty Jenkins and Stacey Sher; 2023 Cannes Selection Firebrand from director Karim Aïnouz and starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law; the 2023 Berlin Film Festival Opener She Came to Me directed by Rebecca Miller and starring Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway; Phillip Noyce’s Fast Charlie starring Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin; 2023 Independent Spirit Award winner Emily the Criminal written & directed by John Patton Ford starring Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossi; and Damián Szifron’s To Catch a Killer starring Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn.
For more information about Vertical, go to www.Vert-Ent.com.