Saban Films Nabs 'The Caged' for North America
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- Saban Films acquired North American rights to 'The Caged,' written and directed by Jeffrey Scott Collins, with The Coven handling international sales and executive producing.
- The film stars Tamzin Merchant, Edmund Kingsley, Raffiella Chapman, and newcomer Callen Carter, and follows a family terrorized by a dark presence after moving into a quaint English coastal cottage.
- The plot is inspired by true events: the cottage is revealed to sit on the site of a medieval prison for those accused of witchcraft, including England's most notorious witch, hanged in 1582.
- The deal was negotiated by Steve Break on behalf of Saban Films and by The Coven on behalf of the filmmakers.
- Producers include Joseph C. Grano at Set Point Entertainment, Collins under Seems Reel Entertainment, Gaby Whyte Hart at Fearless Productions, and Llewelynn Greeff at Dark Matter Studios.
- 'The Caged' is Collins' second feature after 'Above the Line,' which was released in June by Quiver Distribution.
- Collins said the film 'delves into complex family and marital dynamics' and aims to 'terrify its audience both physically and psychologically.'
Why it matters: Saban Films has acquired North American rights to the horror film while The Coven retains international sales, giving the project two distribution channels out of the gate. The true-events hook — a real 1582 witchcraft site — gives marketers a specific historical anchor rather than a generic haunted-house premise, and Collins' quote signals the film is positioned as character-driven horror rather than paranormal schlock.
