Being a huge fan of Jim Mickle’s underrated vampire thriller, STAKE LAND, a film that breathed new life in a long-dead sub-genre, I’ve been excited to see what he had lined up next. It came as a surprise that a remake of Mexican cannibal drama, WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, was going to be adapted by Mickle and his frequent writer and actor collaborator, Nick Damici.
The film has received acclaim during its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2013 and below we have the official press release giving details of the films rights, which have been picked up by distributors Entertainment One, plus the first official look at the poster.
ENTERTAINMENT ONE EATS UP THE US RIGHTS TO JIM MICKLE THRILLER ‘WE ARE WHAT WE ARE’
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SUNDANCE FILM ACQUIRED BY eONE FOR U.S. THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION
Entertainment One (“eOne”) has acquired the U.S. rights to Jim Mickle’s suspenseful horror thriller WE ARE WHAT WE ARE for a theatrical release planned for later this year. The film premiered to major critical acclaim this week at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
In WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, a re-imagining of the 2010 Mexican film of the same name, Jim Mickle paints a gripping and gruesome portrait of an introverted family struggling to keep their macabre traditions alive.
A seemingly wholesome and benevolent family, the Parkers have always kept to themselves, and for good reason. Behind closed doors, patriarch Frank (Bill Sage, “Boardwalk Empire”) rules his family with a rigorous ferver, determined to keep his ancestral customs intact at any cost. As a torrential rainstorm moves into the area, tragedy strikes and his daughters Iris (Ambyr Childers, THE MASTER) and Rose (Julia Garner, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE) are forced to assume responsibilities that extend beyond those of a typical family. The film also stars Michael Parks (DJANGO UNCHAINED), Kelly McGillis (STAKELAND), Nick Damici (STAKELAND), Wyatt Russell (THIS IS 40) and newcomer Jack Gore.WE ARE WHAT WE ARE was written by Mickle and Damici. The two previously collaborated on the screenplays for Mickle’s first two features, MULBERRY STREET and STAKELAND (winner of the “Midnight Madness” Audience Award at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival). WE ARE WHAT WE ARE was produced by Rodrigo Bellott, Andrew D. Corkin, Linda Moran, Nicholas Shumaker and Jack Turner.
“We’re so very excited to add WE ARE WHAT WE ARE to our US slate,” said Dylan Wiley, VP Theatrical Marketing and Distribution, eOne Films North America. “Jim Mickle’s talent was obvious in MULBERRY STREET and STAKE LAND, but this film fulfills his vision on a whole new level and will put him in his rightful place among the masters of genre filmmaking. It will be our pleasure to introduce him to an even wider fan base and we’re confident that audiences will eat up the film.”
“On behalf of the incredible cast and crew of WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, I’m extremely pleased to team up with eOne on a theatrical release and beyond. The response at Sundance has been amazing and we look forward to continuing the journey with our new partners in crime,” said Jim Mickle.
The deal was negotiated by Mark Ankner and Christine D’Souza for WME Global, Andre des Rochers for Gray Krauss Stratford Des Rochers LLP, Emilie Georges for Memento Films International and Sejin Croninger, VP Worldwide Acquisitions for eOne. As previously announced, eOne also acquired rights to WE ARE WHAT WE ARE in the UK, Canada, France, Scandinavia and South Africa. Memento Films International is handling international sales.
WE ARE WHAT WE ARE is expected to hit theatres in the US in late 2013, adding to eOne’s exciting upcoming US lineup which includes; Brian de Palma’s PASSION and Sergio Castellitto’sTWICE BORN. The team is also looking forward to making additional acquisition announcements in the coming weeks.
