Natalie Erika James (Relic, Apartment 7A) is currently filming her next horror project, Saccharine, with Grey's Anatomy star Midori Francis leading the cast, Deadline reports today.
Per Deadline, Saccharine follows Hana (Francis), “a lovelorn medical student who becomes terrorised by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.”
Starring alongside Francis are Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$) playing Hana’s best friend Josie, and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time) as Alanya, a personal trainer and fitness influencer.
Currently filming in Melbourne, Saccharine comes from Carver Films and Thrum Films, with production investment from Screen Australia, XYZ in conjunction with IPR.VC, and Stan, in association with VicScreen. Co-producer is Ben Morgan.
In a statement, James spoke more about the ever-relevant themes of misogyny and ageism in Saccharine:
“There is so much toxic messaging around weight and appearance that permeates every corner of our culture. Saccharine is an intimate look into one woman’s struggle with body image, self-worth, and shame-driven compulsion, told through a supernatural body-horror with a queer lens and an edge of the absurd.”
Producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Carver Films add:
“Saccharine explodes off the page with Natalie’s bold vision. To team with her again is such a sweet pleasure for us. We can’t wait to see Midori, Danielle and Madeleine bring these incredible women to life.”
Look out for more on Saccharine as updates roll in.
