SAW Franchise Director Darren Lynn Bousman Takes on Dark Psychological Thriller SERPENTINE
Darren Lynn Bousman, the filmmaker responsible for some of the most twisted entries in the Saw franchise, is stepping into different territory with Serpentine, a new psychological thriller from Dream State Studios and its partner Brand in Entertainment.
The film takes place in a seemingly peaceful New England town where organized crime, corrupt cops, ugly secrets, and the cutthroat world of competitive figure skating all come crashing together. That's a pretty wild combination, and it sounds like Bousman has something interesting planned.
The story follows a woman who thinks she's finally found a way to leave her dangerous past behind. Unfortunately, getting out isn't nearly as simple as she hoped. Her attempt to disappear draws her into a mess involving criminals, powerful locals, and people willing to do whatever it takes to keep their secrets hidden.
Bousman is looking to explore a different kind of filmmaking with Serpentine, mixing psychological tension with dark comedy and some of the unsettling elements that horror fans have come to expect from his work.
He told Deadline: “I’ve wanted for a long time to flex some different muscles outside of the horror genre, and SERPENTINE gives me that opportunity without completely abandoning the things I love.
“There’s still dread, fear and a real sense of intensity running through it, but it exists in this strange, darkly funny, FARGO-esque world that feels very different from anything I’ve directed before. That combination is what really excites me.”
A crime thriller with the twisted humor of Fargo and the intensity of a Bousman film sounds like a fun combination, especially with competitive figure skating thrown into the mix.
Valerie Palencar, President of Dream State Studios, wrote the screenplay and believes Bousman is the right filmmaker to bring its unusual mix of characters and conflicts to life.
She explained: “Darren immediately understood what makes SERPENTINE unusual. This is a story driven by complex characters operating in a world where ambition and loyalty are constantly being tested. Darren has an extraordinary ability to create tension while never losing sight of character, and we are enormously excited to have him directing the film.”
Dream State Studios is producing the movie, with Brand in Entertainment CEO Rolfe J. Auerbach serving as executive producer.
The project is also taking an unconventional approach to financing. Brand in Entertainment is bringing major consumer brands into the production, with their products incorporated into the story from its earliest development stages. The idea is to help fund the movie through brand partnerships rather than relying entirely on traditional independent film financing.
Auerbach explained the strategy: “SERPENTINE was never intended to be a conventional independent film. We are building a commercially ambitious motion picture around an extraordinary story, an internationally recognized director and a financing model that brings major consumer brands directly into the world of the film. Darren gives SERPENTINE exactly the combination of intensity, originality and commercial filmmaking experience we were looking for.”
Bousman certainly has plenty of experience making audiences uncomfortable. He made his feature directorial debut with 2005's Saw II, which he co-wrote with Leigh Whannell, before returning to direct Saw III and Saw IV. He later reunited with the franchise for the Chris Rock-led spinoff Spiral: From the Book of Saw.
Outside the Saw movies, his credits include the cult horror musical Repo! The Genetic Opera, The Devil's Carnival, Abattoir, and Death of Me. His work often features strange characters, disturbing situations, and a taste for the macabre, which could make Serpentine an interesting change of pace without losing what makes his films entertaining.
I'm curious to see what Bousman does with this next film project.
Source: Deadline