Matthew Lillard and Amber Midthunder Join Body Horror 'Rot'

Matthew Lillard and Amber Midthunder have been cast in the new body horror film 'Rot.' The project marks the feature directorial debut of Alexandra Magistro, the VP of Creative at Mike Flanagan's Red Room Pictures.

The film is based on a script by Geo Bradley that featured on the 2024 Black List. Actor Cooper Koch is also part of the cast. The film's story is described as being akin to 'Repulsion' by way of filmmaker David Cronenberg.

The Story and Cast

While an official logline is not available, Deadline outlines the plot. The film follows an antisocial man plagued by obsessive compulsions, who is haunted by his hoarder mother's death. He takes a job as a trauma cleaner to confront his past, but the work begins to infest and unravel his mental state.

Matthew Lillard and Amber Midthunder are both set to appear in Mike Flanagan's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's 'Carrie' for Prime Video this October. Their casting in 'Rot' continues their collaboration with Flanagan's creative circle.

The Filmmaking Team

Director Alexandra Magistro has a long history with Mike Flanagan's productions. She began working with him on 2019's 'Doctor Sleep.' She later served as a producer on 'The Fall Of The House Of Usher' and 'The Life Of Chuck,' the latter also featuring Matthew Lillard. Magistro is a producer on Flanagan's upcoming 'The Exorcist: Martyrs' and has a writing credit on an episode of the new 'Carrie' series.

The film will bring together several frequent collaborators from Flanagan's horror projects. Production is scheduled to begin later this year.

Body Horror's Current Moment

The 2020s have seen a notable surge in acclaimed body horror films. Julia Ducournau's 'Titane,' which involved a woman being impregnated by a car, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Demi Moore received an Oscar nomination for her role in Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance.' Director Brandon Cronenberg has also contributed to the genre with films like 'Possessor' and 'Infinity Pool.'

The report from Deadline suggests 'Rot' aims to operate within this contemporary wave of the genre. The project is currently in pre-production, with filming expected to commence in the coming months.