If you thought the world of competitive dog grooming was cutthroat, wait until you see what happens when the pedigree gets political.
Independent Film Company and Shudder have officially teamed up to acquire the distribution rights for Breeder, the highly anticipated debut feature from writer-director Alex Goyette. The blockbuster deal locks down screens across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
The film is set to unleash its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival tomorrow, June 6, before heading to theaters this fall.
The Ultimate Student Loan Trap
The narrative framework of Breeder takes the crushing reality of higher-education debt and drops it directly into a blender with high-concept body horror.
The story follows a flat-broke college student who thinks he’s struck gold when an eccentric poodle breeder invites him out to her remote ranch under the guise of an incredibly generous research funding grant. Naturally, because this is a Shudder acquisition, there is a massive, stomach-churning catch.
Director Alex Goyette isn’t biting his tongue about the film’s deeper, darker subtext:
“As conversations around eugenics continue to resurface, our film confronts those ideas through the eyes of a deranged poodle breeder.”
An Ensemble of Pedigree Talent
To pull off a thriller that straddles the line between high-brow societal critique and midnight-movie madness, Goyette has assembled an excellent pack of performers. Daniel Doheny (Alex Strangelove) stars alongside Dot-Marie Jones (Glee), Maddie Phillips (Gen V), and Tanaya Beatty (Yellowstone).
The behind-the-scenes kennel is equally stacked, featuring horror tycoon Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity, Late Night with the Devil, Hokum) serving as an executive producer alongside a massive team of independent film veterans.
“How Did They Get Away With This?”
Mainstream distributors usually play it safe, but IFC and Shudder are actively leaning into the film’s shocking nature. Mark Ward of IFC Entertainment Group couldn’t contain his excitement after closing the deal with UTA Independent Film Group:
“Breeder is the kind of movie that makes you lean forward and ask, ‘How did they get away with this?’ It’s provocative and constantly surprises you just when you think you’ve figured it out.”
If you are lucky enough to be in New York, you can catch the premiere tomorrow at Tribeca. For the rest of us, prepare to stay away from the dog parks until this twisted tale hits theaters and streaming devices later this autumn.
