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Shudder has just announced that it has acquired the haunting South African psychological horror Good Madam which will premiere on the streaming service later this year following its screening at the Glasgow Film Festival. It is also an official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, AFI Fest, and Gothenburg Film Festival.
The film, from writer-director Jenna Cato Bass (Flatland, High Fantasy) and co-writer Babalwa Baartman, centers on Tsidi, a single mother, who is forced to move in with her estranged mother Mavis, a live-in domestic worker caring obsessively for her catatonic white ‘Madam’ in an affluent Cape Town suburb. As Tsidi tries to heal her family however, a sinister specter begins to stir.
“Jenna Cato Bass delivers a sensationally fresh take on the haunted house story while layering in cutting social satire about the lingering horrors of apartheid,” said Shudder General Manager, Craig Engler.
“Horror audiences are probably the most enthusiastic and open-minded I’ve encountered, so I couldn’t be happier that Good Madam has found a home at Shudder, where even more fans of this evolving genre can discover it,” said Jenna Cato Bass.
Good Madam (Mlungu Wam) stars Chumisa Cosa, Nosipho Mtebe, Kamvalethu Jonas Raziya, Sanda Shandu, Khanyiso Kenqa, Sizwe Ginger Lubengu, Siya Sikawuti, Peggy Tunyiswa, and Chris Gxalaba. It is produced by Fox Fire Films, Sanusi Chronicles and Causeway Films in association with Salmira Productions and Strange Charm. Baartman, Cato Bass, Kristina Ceyton (The Babadook, The Nightingale), and Samantha Jennings (Cargo) produce while Salman Al-Rashid, Sam Frohman, Richard Mansell, David Bass and Jason Newmark serve as executive producers.
The acquisition deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder and Lydia Rodman, VP of Sales at Visit Films, on behalf of the filmmakers. Visit is handling international rights and will be presenting the film to buyers at the upcoming EFM.
The trailer should arrive soon.
