While Neil LaBute is known as one of America’s most acclaimed playwrights (The Shape of Things, Reasons to Be Pretty) and indie filmmakers (In the Company of Men, Your Friends & Neighbors), he has also dabbled in genre films and television, namely the Nicolas Cage-starring remake of The Wicker Man and as the creator of the TV series Van Helsing.
Writer-director LaBute’s next stab at genre filmmaking is the gothic thriller House of Darkness, which IGN can exclusively debut the trailer for today. You can watch the trailer via the player above or the embed below.
LaBute’s plays and films have proven controversial for their depictions of sexual politics, even as they've also been praised for their sharp dialogue and dark humor.
Judging from the trailer. House of Darkness has all those familiar LaBute elements at play within the trappings of a seductive, gothic thriller.
The cast features Justin Long (Tusk, Drag Me to Hell), Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns, 21), Gia Crovatin (Van Helsing), and Lucy Walters (Get Shorty).
Here’s the official plot synopsis to shed more light on House of Darkness:
“Driving home to her secluded estate after meeting at a local bar, a player out to score thinks his beautiful, mysterious date will be another casual hook-up. While getting acquainted, their flirtation turns playful, sexy, and sinister. Hoping to get lucky, his luck may have just run out.”
House of Darkness is rated R and will be released theatrically by Saban Films on September 9, 2022, and on digital and On Demand on September 13.