The Wretched reaches VOD and select drive-ins today

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

As we have previously reported, the only venues that have brought any life to the domestic box office during the COVID-19 lockdown are the handful of drive-in theatres that are still operating, allowing people to see movies on the big screen while still practicing social distancing, since everyone is watching the movie while sitting in separate cars. (And hopefully the only people in the cars with them are the ones they've been in quarantine with.) 

With regular theatres still closed, it's cool to hear that IFC Midnight is releasing their new film THE WRETCHED (OUR REVIEW) at select drive-ins today, along with a Digital and VOD release. (It's on Amazon Prime Video HERE.) Our friends at Bloody-Disgusting have noted that "this is the first time (drive-ins) are playing independent first-run product in the modern era."

This is the second feature film from the Pierce Brothers, Brett and Drew Pierce. Their first was the zombie cult hit DEADHEADS, and the pair have been obsessed with the horror genre since childhood, as they grew up amid the production of Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD. Their father, Bart Pierce, was that film's photographic effects artist.

THE WRETCHED has the following synopsis: 

Following his parents’ separation, a rebellious teenage boy, Ben, is sent to live with his father for the summer and work at the local marina in order to gain some form of discipline. The idyllic tourist town offers little solace for him, however, as he is forced to deal with the local, privileged teens and his father’s new girlfriend. Ben’s problems grow increasingly disturbing when he makes a chilling discovery about the family renting the house next door. A malevolent spirit from the woods has taken ahold of the parents and starts playing a sinister game of house, preying upon the children and wiping away any trace of their existence. Ben’s suspicions of the supernatural horrors go unheeded and he launches a perilous crusade in order to put an end to the skin-walking witch’s reign of terror. 

The film will be playing in the following drive-ins, starting today: 

West Wind Glendale Drive-in // Glendale, AZ 
West Wind Sacramento Drive-in // Sacramento, CA 
Ocala Drive-In // Ocala, FL 
Sweet Onion Cinemas // Vidalia, GA 
Mission Tiki Drive In // Montclair, CA 
Starlight Drive-In Theatre //Atlanta, GA

Drive-ins in Tennessee (Sparta) and Georgia (Jesup) will start showing THE WRETCHED on May 15th.

There are 321 drive-ins around the United States, and IFC Midnight is hoping to expand the release of THE WRETCHED to even more of them when they re-open.