STIFLE

Feature / psychological horror / in-development

LOGLINE: After a scathing rebuke from a friend, an audacious comedienne finds herself tormented by phantoms that prey upon her latent self-doubt, compelling her to exorcise them before her personal essence is extinguished forever.

SYNOPSIS: Zadie is a confident and audacious rising star in the Toronto comedy scene, unaware that her friend Janelle is growing resentful of her success and alienated by her intense energy. When their long simmering conflict erupts into a bitter argument, Janelle seizes the opportunity to humble Zadie with a sharp personal rebuke. As Zadie nears an important professional opportunity, she is suddenly possessed by malicious phantoms preying upon her latent self-doubt. Initially convinced she’s being plagued by repressed mental health issues, Zadie desperately seeks treatment and support, but eventually grows suspicious of Janelle's increasingly strange behaviour. When her psychological torment extends to physical disfigurement, Zadie discovers that Janelle has exhumed an adolescent occult practice to infuse her words of reprimand with black magic. Realizing that the insidious self-doubt that has possessed her is not of her own design, Zadie is able to summon the strength to confront Janelle, end their toxic relationship, and ultimately break a curse that has ensnared her. After recovering, Zadie returns to her career in comedy emotionally and physically scarred— a more sardonic and trepidatious version of her former self..

STATUS: We currently have a third draft of the screenplay, a detailed director’s treatment, and a tentative budget and financing plan. We are looking for post-production and VFX producing partners, as well as an in international sales agent.

CONTACT: Email brendan.prost@sadsackcinema for more information.