Independent Film Company and Shudder Acquire Natalie Erika James’ Supernatural Body Horror “Saccharine” From XYZ Films Ahead of Sundance Premiere

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NEW YORK, NY - January 20, 2026 - Independent Film Company and Shudder announced today that they have acquired Natalie Erika James' supernatural body horror SACCHARINE from XYZ Films ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Midori Francis (GREY'S ANATOMY, THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS), Danielle Macdonald (PATTI CAKE$), and Madeleine Madden (THE WHEEL OF TIME). Saccharine, written and directed by James, marks her third feature following her acclaimed psychological horror debut RELIC, which was distributed by IFC Midnight, and APARTMENT 7A, the prequel to ROSEMARY'S BABY starring Julia Garner. The deal includes rights in North America and the UK. SACCHARINE will have a theatrical release ahead of its Shudder debut in 2026.

SACCHARINE follows Hana (Francis), a lovelorn medical student who becomes terrorized by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.

Said director Natalie Erika James, "I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with Independent Film Company and Shudder again after our experience releasing RELIC together in 2020. They're an incredible team with a deep understanding of genre and a real commitment to filmmakers."

"Natalie announced herself as a singular force with her haunting debut RELIC, a film that we were privileged to bring to audiences in 2020 via IFC Midnight," said Emily Gotto, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Productions at Shudder. "With SACCHARINE, she returns with a chilling, utterly original vision that pierces our deepest obsessions with body image, reaffirming her work as a leading voice in genre cinema".

SACCHARINE is a Carver Films and Thrum Films Production, financed by Screen Australia in conjunction with XYZ Films, IPR.VC, and Stan, in association with VicScreen. The film is produced by James, Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw (producers of RUN RABBIT RUN, RELIC, SNOWTOWN). The deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto for Shudder with XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers.

About Independent Film Company

Independent Film Company is a leading U.S. distributor of independent cinema at the forefront of championing boundary-pushing, thought-provoking films for 25 years, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, filmmaker-driven cinema across all genres. Independent Film Company's slate reaches a national audience through theatrical releases, cable Video On Demand (VOD), and digital platforms.

Some of the company's successes over the years include Andrew Haigh's 45 YEARS, Jennifer Kent's THE BABADOOK, Matthew Johnson's BLACKBERRY, Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD, Armando Iannucci's THE DEATH OF STALIN, Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA, David France's HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, Chris Nash's IN A VIOLENT NATURE, Colin and Cameron Cairnes' LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, Stephen Frears' THE LOST KING, Adam Elliot's MEMOIR OF A SNAIL, Olivier Assayas' PERSONAL SHOPPER, Tran Anh Hung's THE TASTE OF THINGS, Michael Winterbottom's THE TRIP, and Chloe Okuno's WATCHER.

About Shudder

Shudder is the leading curatorial voice and cultural destination for genre entertainment, delivering an unparalleled selection of horror, thrillers, and the supernatural. With an ever-expanding library of films, TV series, and exclusive Originals, Shudder is accessible across most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Shudder releases approximately thirty films per year, and has redefined genre streaming with a slate of groundbreaking and critically acclaimed titles, including Rob Savage's HOST, Jayro Bustamante's Golden Globe-nominated LA LLORONA, Phil Tippett's MAD GOD, Coralie Fargeat's REVENGE, Kyle Edward Ball's SKINAMARINK, Christian Tafdrup's SPEAK NO EVIL, Chloe Okuno's WATCHER, Demián Rugna's WHEN EVIL LURKS, and the latest installments in the V/H/S franchise. Shudder also boasts fan-favorite series such as the two-time Emmy Award-nominated THE BOULET BROTHERS' DRAGULA, Mark Duplass' THE CREEP TAPES, Greg Nicotero's CREEPSHOW, and THE LAST DRIVE-IN WITH JOE BOB BRIGGS. Notable recent releases include Chris Nash's IN A VIOLENT NATURE, Colin and Cameron Cairnes' LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, Damian McCarthy's ODDITY, and Emilie Blichfeldt's THE UGLY STEPSISTER.

Press Contacts:

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