The Accursed: Mena Suvari, Willy’s Wonderland director team for horror film

Last Updated on August 10, 2021

Fresh off of directing the "Nicolas Cage vs. possessed animatronics" film Willy's Wonderland (watch it HERE), Kevin Lewis has signed on to direct The Accursed – which also happens to be about possession. Set to star Mena Suvari, Sarah Grey, Meg Foster, Alexis Knapp, and Sarah Dumont, the film will center on 

a young woman who faces a horrifying past. When her estranged mother dies by suicide, Elly (Grey) is forced to return home from volunteering as a nurse abroad. Determined to sell the family home and get her life back on track, she finds herself haunted by terrifying visions of her mother. Consumed by guilt and eager for a quick escape, Elly accepts the offer from Alma (Suvari) as a temporary caregiver to look after the comatose Ms. Ambrose (Foster) in her isolated cabin. But Alma has nefarious plans for Elly and she soon is confronted with Mary Lynn (Knapp), a witch hunter who is hellbent on lifting the demonic curse that has plagued her family for generations. Elly discovers that Ms. Ambrose has a history in the black arts, as well as a mysterious connection to Elly’s mother. As she tries to unlock the truth with her friend Beth (Dumont), it becomes all too clear that Elly was lured to the cabin under false pretenses.

Rob Kennedy wrote the screenplay for The Accursed, which is described as being like "if Sam Raimi and Dario Argento had a love child and James Wan was its uncle".

Lewis had this to say about the project: 

The ability to work closely on a film rooted in demonic possession has been on my bucket list; it is a genre I am passionate about. This opportunity, to blend an incredible story with working with an exceptional female driven cast is a tremendous moment for me as a director and horror lover. I am equally excited to be bringing back so many of the team from ‘Willy’s Wonderland,’ like David Newbert (DP), Ryan Liebert (Editor) and Emoi (Composer).”

Storyoscopic Films' Marcus Englefield and George Lee are producing the film, while Rob Kennedy serves as an executive producer alongside Scott Harbert, Jeremy Ross, Fred Hedman, and Edward Kennedy. Ann Carli is the executive producer. The financing for The Accursed is being provided by Evolution Pictures, while GFM Film Sales is handling worldwide sales.

Willy's Wonderland wasn't as fun as I was hoping it would be, but it was entertaining enough that I'm on board to check out what Lewis does next. That goofy "Raimi/Argento love child with uncle Wan" description also helped sell me on The Accursed.