Shudder Acquires the Rights to New Original Film ‘Raging Grace’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Writer/Director Paris Zarcilla

Truly, one of the biggest benefits of the streaming wars, is that every streamer out there… is eager to offer up the most unique content possible. Which is a collective goal that has brought about some stellar storytelling in the past few years. The kind that has quite frankly, changed the landscape of the industry and the awards circuit. For streamers are releasing powerful stories that defy tradition and tropes and wow audiences everywhere with stunning production values and stories that captivate, and one streamer that continues to lead the way in this arena is Shudder.
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Because they do everything, they can, to bring the most original and dynamic horror movies to the masses and they even curate and produce their own content. A decision that has helped to resurrect anthology horror, thanks to Creepshow, and soon that masterpiece will be accompanied by the equally brilliant Horror Noire and earlier today, the network announced another powerful acquisition. For Shudder has acquired the right to the film Raging Grace before the movie is even complete. Speaking volumes to how this network wants only the best and is willing to wait to have it and well, here are all the details on this announcement and on the film, which will help you understand why this news is such a huge deal… courtesy of Shudder.

‘AMC Network’s Shudder, the premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today the new Original Film Raging Grace, written and directed by BIFA-nominee Paris Zarcilla (Pommel, The Century Egg), produced by Chi Thai (The Promise, Little Miss Sumo) and starring Filipina actress Max Eigenmann (Verdict) and David Hayman (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Finding Your Feet). Described as a “Coming of Rage” film, which spotlights the Filipino immigrant experience through a blend of horror and drama, Raging Grace begins production this November in the UK and will debut in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in 2022.  In Raging Grace, an undocumented Filipina immigrant lands a job as a careworker for a seemingly terminal old man, securing a better life for her and her daughter. But a dark discovery threatens to destroy everything she’s strived for and holds dear.

“In Raging Grace, rising filmmaker Paris Zarcilla and producer Chi Thai craft a subversive, contemporary spin on gothic horror,” said Shudder’s Emily Gotto, VP of Acquisitions, and Sam Zimmerman, VP of Programming. “With a bold, urgent portrait of race and power, Raging Grace will take an old, dark house and make it new again.”

Said Zarcilla: “Raging Grace will be the first British-Filipino feature in British cinema history. Growing up Southeast Asian in London, I was taught to assimilate, to excel but not to stick out, to aspire to whiteness and white approval, to be the model minority, a good immigrant, to not rock the boat. Writing this film terrified me because it goes against everything my Asian parents taught me about assimilation. To make this film is to approach a place of trauma and horror. That is what it is to approach the master’s house. It’s about challenging old and new white power; it’s about smashing through the barriers that have held back East and Southeast Asian talent; it’s about raging gracefully. Raging Grace is a cathartic spectacle that explores the trauma of being an undocumented worker, but most importantly, a celebration of Filipino culture and our place in this world.  Here’s to dismantling the master’s house and thanks for AMC Networks and Shudder for giving me the platform to do it.”

Said Thai: “Raging Grace is a rare and exciting alignment of all my personal and professional principles and values as producer, a working mother and a refugee. Working with Paris has been and will continue to be an incredible creative adventure. My hope is for this film to be the spark that triggers an uprising of British East and Southeast Asian filmmaking on a global stage. Instrumental in making this happen has been AMC Networks and Shudder - our formidable partners who have empowered us to share our vision without compromise.”

Zarcilla’s film Pommel, supported by Creative England, the BFI and Refinery Media, was nominated for Best British Short at the prestigious BIFA (British Independent Film Awards), and Special Jury Mention for Excellence in Directing at the Oscar-qualifying Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and was nominated for Best International Short at the Oscar-qualifying Short Shorts Asia in Japan. He wrote and directed two-part television drama, The Century Egg for the Emmy-nominated production company Refinery Media. Zarcilla has also been commissioned to develop Inspector Low, a primetime television series adaptation based on the book by Neil Humphreys for 108 Media. 

Thai is an independent producer who works across television and features. She has been a Cannes Lions finalist three times. Her production company was listed in Creative England’s leading creative companies in the UK and selected for the prestigious BFI Vision Award. Thai’s recent credits include Netflix Original documentary Little Miss Sumo, Royal Television Society-nominated virtual reality feature IF, commissioned by Google, Automat, a drama for Sky, and The Promise, an adaptation of The New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year by Nicole Davies and Laura Carlin for the BBC. Thai’s current roster includes a television adaptation of the Caldecott-winning picture book Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell with five-time Academy-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon.  She is developing a feature adaptation of Dark Chapter, winner of the Not Booker Prize (2017) by Winnie M. Li with Northern Irish Screen, and adapting the award-winning sci-fi novel The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen into a television series with the support of BFI YACF.

Raging Grace is produced by Shudder, Chi Thai and Darlene Malimas.’

So, as you can see, Shudder really has grabbed hold of something quite special. Since Raging Grace is shaping up to be a powerful and poignant film, one that celebrates the best aspects of horror and shatters tropes along the way. And this news just serves as a fine reminder that streaming really is where the finest stories are being told right now and if you’re looking for the best stories that horror has to offer, you’ll definitely find them on Shudder.

As a bonus, here are some additional images of the cast and crew, also courtesy of Shudder.

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Producer Chi Thai

Actress Max Eigenmann

Actor David Hayman