Modern gym culture and self-obsession are given the horror treatment in the newly announced feature ‘Shredded’.
Produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes (A Quiet Place, The Purge), the film is written and directed by actor/director Josh Lawson, who starred as Kano in Mortal Kombat and was nominated for an Oscar for the live-action short The Eleven O’Clock.
Protagonist Pictures will handle international sales in conjunction with the newly announced Logical Pictures International, while UTA Independent Film Group will represent U.S. rights. Logical is also fully financing the film’s production.
“Shredded” is described as an “unflinching look at the dark side of modern fitness culture and self-obsession” and a “propulsive thrill ride that pushes toxic gym culture to terrifying extremes.”
The film follows Irene, reeling from a breakup, as she enrolls in an intense gym class run by a charismatic but erratic coach. When she leaves the program, he abducts her and locks her up in a sadistic training facility, forcing her and the other captives to undergo training with often deadly penalties. As her physical demands increase, Irene must outwit her coach’s evil plans and turn her obsession with control and perfection against him before it’s too late.
“Josh has crafted deeply personal stories that bring horror directly into audiences’ lives. He is the kind of filmmaker that Platinum Dune is built around. He is a writer-director with a clear point of view and a keen instinct for delivering twisted films that will delight audiences,” said Platinum Dune. “After ‘Shredded,’ audiences will never look at gym equipment or wall-to-wall mirrors the same way again. We’re thrilled to support him as he partners with the protagonist and the logical to bring this piece to life.”
Produced by Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Alex Zinno for Platinum Dunes and Jeff Gorenberg (“John Leguizamo’s Ghetto Clown,” “Kat Williams Presents: Cuthouse Comedy”) for Strand Entertainment. Executive producers include Logical Pictures Group’s Frederic Fiore, Ryan Wickers, and Andrei Kamarowski, as well as Protagonist Pictures’ Dave Bishop, James Pugh, George Hamilton, and Troy Lamb.
“Platinum Dunes has an exceptional track record of creating iconic horror, and we are thrilled to be joining Shred and working with our partners at Protagonist on this exciting new project,” said Kamarowski, Head of International, Logical Pictures Group.
“Shredded is unapologetically intense high-concept horror, as brutal as the ultimate workout in hell,” added CEO Bishop. “We are thrilled to partner with Platinum Dunes on this bold and timely white-knuckle ride. Tapping directly into contemporary anxieties around control, self-obsession, and self-improvement, ‘Shredded’ is sure to put theatrical audiences around the world through their paces.”
