Three years have gone by since we first heard that an English-language remake of Erlingur Thoroddsen’s 2017 Icelandic horror film Rift was in the works, and now it looks like the project may finally be heading toward production, with Thoroddsen writing and directing this new version of his story. Oscar-winning Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black is on board to produce the remake, which is a collaboration between Wayward Entertainment and XYZ Films.
Described as a gay-themed psychological horror movie, the original Rift told the story of
two men whose broken relationship is tested as they are haunted by a supernatural entity awakened by their grief.
Here’s another synopsis that offers a little more information:
Months after they broke up, Gunnar receives a strange phone call from his ex-boyfriend, Einar. He sounds distraught, like he’s about to do something terrible to himself. Gunnar drives up to the secluded cabin where Einar is holed up and soon discovers that there’s more going on than he imagined. As the two men come to terms with their broken relationship, some other person seems to be lurking outside the cabin, wanting to get in.
J. Todd Harris and Marc Macum of Branded Pictures Entertainment will be producing the Rift remake alongside Black. When we first heard about this remake, it was set to happen at Orion Pictures, but that is no longer the case.
In addition to the first Rift, Thoroddsen also wrote and directed the 2016 horror film Child Eater, and wrote Into the Dark: Midnight Kiss. Out of all of Thoroddsen’s credits, Midnight Kiss is the only one I’ve seen, so I might have to seek out the original Rift and watch it before the remake gets released into the world.
We’ll keep you updated on the new Rift as it continues to move forward.