Sleigh Day, a next-generation interactive horror film that puts audiences in control of who lives and dies, is scheduled for wide theatrical release on February 12, 2027 on approximately 1,000 interactive screens across North America. The distribution plan, which coincides with the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day long holiday weekends, was revealed when it was announced to movie theater owners and operators at CtrlMovie’s CinemaCon. The company says this will be one of the first large-scale releases of an interactive film in history.
The film focuses on the question, “Can you survive when a high school dance turns into a dangerous situation?” Friday the 13th, 1987, is set in the picture-perfect town of Bell Falls and follows six teenagers as they prepare for the biggest night of the year: the Sadie Hawkins dance. But when the town exhumes the body of the real Sadie Hawkins in order to uncover the truth behind her serial murders from 50 years ago, malevolent forces return to town.
“Slay Day” uses CtrlMovie technology to transform the theatrical experience into an interactive event, with audience members voting in real-time via their smartphones to advance the story across more than 50 decision points. Each choice determines the fate of six central characters and seven additional characters, unlocking over 8,000 story endings. In other words, you decide who survives and who doesn’t make it to the final credits. According to the company, this means that no two screens are the same. The hope is to encourage repeat viewing, with viewers coming back to explore new paths and alternative endings never experienced before.
“What excited me about ‘Slay Day’ from the beginning was the chance to draw the audience directly into the story,” said director John David Buxton. “It’s about 80 years of music, style, perfectly timed needle drops and more It’s a high-energy, heightened throwback slasher with plenty of love for the era’s spirit. But instead of just watching a group of friends try to survive, you’ll be making decisions alongside them, and each screening will be different. It’s unpredictable, intense, and a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see how the audience plays out — and who actually makes it out alive.”
Producer Mark Dragin added, “You’re not just sitting next to someone on a date, you’re trying to survive together. People react, argue, and second-guess each other in real time. Suddenly, the theater is no longer quiet, it’s alive. You feel a shift in energy with every decision you make, and your movie night turns into something you actually share with the entire audience.”
The company has broader ambitions. Paramount has two interactive CtrlMovie projects in development. One is “Girl Crazy,” a “seat-of-your-pants” psychological thriller, and the other is “Alice Is Missing,” a “whodunnit” based on the role-playing board game of the same name. CtrlMovie also revealed during Wednesday morning’s CinemaCon presentation that it is producing an interactive feature film called “Nightmare Manor,” which is scheduled to be shot this summer. This is the story of two sisters fighting for survival on opposite sides of the same cursed wall. One is trapped in Nightmare Manor and the other is desperately trying to get back inside.
Slay Day was filmed in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah, and marks Buxton’s directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Andrew Matiswi (The Firm), and the film will be produced by Dragin (Law & Order), Michael Kagan (Night Patrol), and Scott C. Silver (The Pyramid). Eric Schneider, Angela Kay, and Chaz Barsamian will serve as executive producers.
The ensemble cast includes Jaden Bartels (Goosebumps), Shelby Simmons (Bunked), Emma McNulty (FBI: Most Wanted), Caleb Brown (Mother’s Day), Luke Mullen (V/H/S/99), Corrado Martini (Circles), and Lyndon Smith (National Treasure: Edge of History). Casting was led by Daniel Aufiero and Amber Horn of Aufiero/Horn.
BasePoint Capital funded the film, the first project in partnership with Kino Industries’ CtrlMovie to bring audience-controlled movies to theaters around the world.
The film will be released domestically first and then internationally.
