US streaming platform Hulu is turning its “Bite Size Halloween” horror shorts into a series of feature-length movies.
“The partnership between 20th Digital Studio and Hulu is set to include nine horror features over the next few years,” the press release explains. “The films will expand directly on the shorts from the ‘Bite Size Halloween’ collection, featuring previous writers or directors, or inspired by past shorts. The films deal with topical social issues such as mental health, ecological collapse, reproductive rights, interracial adoption and online hysteria.”
The short films in the ‘Bite Size Halloween’ collection range from horror-comedies to psychological thrillers and everything in between. Hulu’s press release shares the following details about the first confirmed titles getting the feature-length treatment:
“APPENDAGE is the story of a young fashion designer whose anxiety physically manifests. The film opened season two of 20th Digital Studio’s ‘BITE SIZE HALLOWEEN’ on Hulu… [Anna] Zlokovic has signed to write and direct the feature film version and casting is underway.
“GRIMCUTTY, written and directed by John William Ross, is a teen tech horror thriller, shot outside Los Angeles in fall 2021 and now in post-production. The film stars Shannyn Sossamon (WAYWARD PINES, SLEEPY HOLLOW), Usman Ally (A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, VEEP), Alona Tal (SEAL TEAM), and newcomer Sara Wolfkind.
“WORMEATER, a rural British family trauma body horror from writer/director Ben Steiner, recently completed filming in the UK with stars Kate Dickie (GAME OF THRONES, THE GREEN KNIGHT) and Jemima Rooper (THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE, upcoming FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC: THE ORIGIN). The film is a thematic successor to Steiner’s 2018 20th Digital short URN.
“THE HUG will expand on the story of the animatronic “Pandory the Panda” who terrorized children in his Pizza Palace in a viral 2018 short from 20th Digital. The original creators, writing/directing team Jack & Justin (Bishop and Nijm, respectively) have signed on.
“CLOCK by writer/director Alexis Jacknow and inspired by the ‘BITE SIZE HALLOWEEN’ 2020 short of the same title will follow a woman’s desperate attempt to fix her broken biological clock.”
Additional scripts are currently in development.
Words: Samantha McLaren (@themeatispeople)
