18 & Over: Pandemic slasher stars Ashley Benson, Paris Hilton, Pam Anderson

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

We've heard the term "pandemic thriller" a lot recently, but I think the description of the upcoming horror film 18 & Over is the first time I've heard "pandemic slasher". And I have to say, "pandemic slasher" does sound more appealing to me than "pandemic thriller", so the filmmakers made a good choice here.

Shot during the real pandemic, 18 & Over stars and was produced by Ashley Benson of Pretty Little Liars. Benson is also credited with creating the project with writer/director Jimmy Giannopolous and co-writer Diomedes Raul Bermudez. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but we know the story 

takes place when quarantine leads to a night of terror.

Benson is joined in the cast by Jon Foster, Jake Weary, Sky Ferreira, Luis Guzman, Winnie Harlow, G Eazy, Duke Nicholson, A$AP Nast, John Robinson, Paris Hilton, and Pamela Anderson. I did not expect those last two names to show up on the cast list.

Coming to us thanks to the Hercules film fund and Rhea Films, 18 & Over was produced by Purpose Film's Bermudez and Artemis Pictures' Siena Oberman, Cassius Corrigan, and Benson. Jamin O'Brien is executive producer.

Giannopolous had this to say about the film:

After deciding to shoot this film in the middle of the pandemic, we wanted to make something that would be fun but still a terrifying slasher for audiences during these tough times. A film relevant to today's issues of a global pandemic, reality shows, isolation, Only Fans, and obsession."

Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales, and I'm hoping we'll be hearing some distribution news very soon. Benson shared a first look image on her Instagram account: 
 

Source: Deadline

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.