Shut In: D.J. Caruso, Rainey Qualley thriller wraps production

Two years ago, it was announced that Jason Bateman would be directing Shut In, a “contained thriller” “in the vein of Panic Room“, for New Line Cinema and producer Dallas Sonnier. Bateman’s version of Shut In never made it into production, though, so when New Line’s option on it expired Sonnier took the project over to the conservative media company The Daily Wire. Now the first original feature from the company, Shut In wrapped production last weekend with Disturbia and xXx: The Return of Xander Cage director D.J. Caruso at the helm and Rainey Qualley (Love in the Time of Corona) in the lead role.

The script for Shut In, written by Melanie Toast, was featured on both the Black List and the Blood List, which put a spotlight on the best unproduced screenplays that are bouncing around the studio system. The story centers on

a young single mother (Qualley) who is held captive by her violent ex, with her two young children left at risk. She must do everything to protect them and survive.

Production took place around Nashville and Watertown, Tennessee. Sonnier produced the film with Amanda Presmyk through their company Bonfire Legend. Daily Wire co-founders Ben Shapiro, Jeremy Boreing, and Caleb Robinson serve as executive producers.

Shut In will be available for Daily Wire site members in the U.S. to watch as of January of 2022. An international launch will follow.

The Daily Wire got into the film business with the acquisition of Kyle Rankin’s thriller Run Hide Fight earlier this year. Their next original film, a revenge thriller starring Gina Carano and written by The Hitcher‘s Eric Red (based on his novel White Knuckle – read our review HERE), will begin filming in October and is expected to be released sometime in the first quarter of 2022.

Caruso had this to say about Shut In:

I was excited to direct a fiercely independent film from a brilliant script by Melanie Toast that seeped into my creative DNA back in 2019, when I had first read it. I was given the creative freedom to craft a film that features a flawed, but graceful character that must fight addiction, and dire circumstances to find light in a very dark place.”

A first look image of Qualley in Shut In can be seen below: