Red Owl Films, a new international sales and distribution company based in Wellington, New Zealand, has officially launched operations. Specializing in boundary-pushing fantasy and high-quality genre cinema, Red Owl connects visionary emerging filmmakers with the global film marketplace. They aim to bridge the gap between commercial appeal and auteur storytelling. Beyond international sales, the company offers end-to-end support for its roster, encompassing film festival strategy, international marketing, and global distribution management.
Red Owl’s inaugural sales slate highlights an eclectic range of indie horror, classic giallo, and true-crime documentary offerings:
The Barn Part II
October 31
Directed by Justin M. Seaman
The long-awaited sequel to Justin M. Seaman’s indie horror hit picks up three years after Michelle’s narrow escape from the tragedy in Wheary Falls. Now in college and tasked with leading the Gamma Tau Psi sorority haunted house, Michelle remains tormented by the traumatic events of Halloween night. When uninvited trick-or-treaters from her past return—bringing a terrifying host of new threats with them—her nightmare begins anew.
The film features an ensemble cast of legendary horror icons. That includes Ari Lehman (Friday the 13th), Linnea Quigley (Night of the Demons), Joe Bob Briggs & Diana Prince / Darcy the Mail Girl (Shudder’s The Last Drive-In), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger) and Doug Bradley (Hellraiser).
Two Sisters
TBA
Directed by James Lee
Following her release from an asylum, a young woman reunites with her older sister to return to their abandoned childhood home. Upon arrival, the sisters uncover a dark and tragic family secret that rapidly begins to unravel their lives.
Venice Film Festival programmer Paolo Bertolin praised the film. They called it James Lee’s “most convincing horror film yet, almost perfectly balanced between the narrative aims of the story and a gratifying execution of genre conventions.”
Abrakadabra: Director’s Cut (4K Extended Version)
TBA
Directed by Luciano Onetti & Nicolás Onetti
Horror specialists the Onetti brothers complete their giallo trilogy—following Sonno Profondo and Francesca. This is a stylistically overwhelming thriller written alongside Carlos Goitia.
Thirty-five years after prestigious magician “Dante the Great” dies during a risky stunt, his son Lorenzo, now an accomplished illusionist himself, stages a major show at one of the city’s premier theaters. When a series of brutal murders begins to target those around him, framing Lorenzo for the crimes, he must unmask the true culprit before time runs out.
Festival Accolades: Sitges Film Festival (Official Selection), Horrorant Film Festival (Special Distinction), Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre (Best Cinematography), Morbido Film Fest (Special Mention).
The Psychopath: Chronicles of Unsolved Crimes
TBA
Directed by Estefani Cespedes
This investigative documentary examines the chilling case of Costa Rica’s first recorded serial killer, known as “The Psychopath,” who claimed 19 victims between 1985 and 1995. Combining detailed forensic analysis with an examination of the era’s socio-political backdrop, the film explores why the case remains officially unsolved and measures its lasting impact on the collective memory of Costa Rican society.
We’ll keep you posted as release dates and more are announced.
