Horror-Thriller “THE S.H.U.” acquired by Premiere Entertainment

Premiere Entertainment Group (PEG), a Los Angeles-based sales, production and financing company, has acquired worldwide rights to psychological horror-thriller THE S.H.U., or Segregated Housing Unit, starring Edi Gathegi (Twilight Saga films, X-Men: First Class). Melora Hardin, Angela Sarafyan, Tony Amendola, and James Jagger round out the key cast.

The timely elevated genre follows an affluent, African American psychiatrist (Gathegi) into federal prison after being found guilty of murdering his wife, then sent to solitary confinement – a victim of systematic racism. Isolated and fighting for an appeal, he slowly descends into madness, pushed to his breaking point by an abusive female guard (Hardin) hell bent on her own form of justice. Haunted by internal demons and his dead wife, he questions his own innocence and sanity, making his time in the S.H.U a never-ending nightmare.

Aaron Fjellman makes his feature film directorial debut from a script he co-wrote with James ‘Doc’ Mason. Pete Kirtley produced for Panic House Films alongside, Matthew C. Temple, Jessa Zarubica, and Fjellman. Edi Gathegi and Ryan Sage served as executive producers.

“After a global pandemic sentenced the world to solitary confinement, George Floyd’s tragedy inspired a moment in time where it seems change is finally within our grasp,” says Aaron Fjellman of Panic House Films. “Premiere Entertainment share our creative vision and have the expertise to present this project to a global audience, making them the perfect partner.”

“We were very impressed with this smart and timely elevated genre film and were eager to team up with Pete and Aaron. In the fashion of Jordan Peele and his iconic films Get Out and Us, The S.H.U. promises to thrill and entertain audiences but more importantly it delivers a relevant social message,” says Carlos Rincon, Premiere’s VP of Acquisitions. “The film not only underlines the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement but also explores the psychological and torturous effects of extreme isolation.”

THE S.H.U. has been garnering wide interest from buyers since last week’s Cannes virtual market.

Premiere CEO and president Elias Axume and Carlos Rincon negotiated the deal with producer Pete Kirtley. Kirtley and Aaron Fjellman co-founded Panic House Films.

Premiere’s market slate also included wedding comedy SISTER OF THE GROOM with Alicia Silverstone, survival thriller CENTIGRADE with Genesis Rodriguez, LOST TRANSMISSIONS with Simon Pegg, and TIFF Midnight Madness selection GUNDALA. Premiere is also in post-production on their original features LOCKED IN starring Mena Suvari and BLINDSIDED starring Natasha Henstridge.