The Land of Nod: Skinamarink director Kyle Edward Ball sets up his next horror film

Writer/director Kyle Edward Ball’s experimental micro-budget horror film Skinamarink proved to be quite divisive when it was given a theatrical release last year, followed by a release through the Shudder streaming service. Some viewers found the movie to be terrifying, while others found it to be mind-numbingly boring… but regardless of the response, it was made on a budget of $15,000 and earned over $2 million during its theatrical run, so it was a financial success. Now, Variety reports that Ball has set up his next horror film, teaming up with A24 to bring us something called The Land of Nod.

Ball will be writing and directing The Land of Nod, but plot details are being kept under wraps for now. All we know is that it’s a horror project that will be distributed by A24, and that it’s being produced by Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, and Josh Safdie of Central Pictures; Lawrence Inglee, Daniel Noah, and Elijah Wood of SpectreVision; and Tatiana Bears and Bruno Vernaschi Berman. Theo Vieljeux will serve as executive producer.

Ball had previously told Variety that he had ideas for two different projects: one a take on the Pied Piper legend (which recently got a couple of horror twists with the Anthony Waller / Elizabeth Hurley movie Piper and the Erlingur Thoroddsen / Julian Sands film The Piper), and the other about three strangers who all see the same house in a dream. Given the title, The Land of Nod might have something to do with that second idea.

Since we don’t have a synopsis for The Land of Nod just yet, let’s take a look back at the synopsis for Skinamarink: Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows & blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party. They play well worn videotapes of cartoons to fill the silence of the house and distract from the frightening and inexplicable situation, hoping that eventually some grown-ups will come to rescue them. After a while, it becomes clear that something is watching over them.

Are you interested in seeing how Kyle Edward Ball is going to follow Skinamarink? Share your thoughts on The Land of Nod by leaving a comment below.