Emma Roberts will headline the upcoming horror film A Body In The Woods, produced by Dave Caplan, known for his work on Longlegs and The Monkey. This project marks the inaugural film for the new U.S. sales company Manifest Pictures, founded by former executives from Miramax and WME Independent, Yvette Zhuang and Zach Glueck. Pre-sales for the film are set to launch at the ongoing European Film Market in Berlin.
In the film, Roberts portrays Alice Lincoln, a woman living in the remote Marshall Woods during the early 1900s. This location is steeped in legends surrounding a malevolent witch. Alice’s unsettling experience unfolds as she is tasked with guarding the body of an unidentified mine worker at her isolated cabin. As night falls, she encounters disturbing phenomena that lead her to believe the corpse may not be at rest. The arrival of a silent woman at the forest’s edge plunges Alice into a harrowing nightmare, with dangers lurking both within and outside her cabin.
The screenplay of this “nightmarish folklore tale” is both written and directed by Stephen Cognetti, who is recognized for creating the Hell House franchise. Production is scheduled to commence in September 2023, with financing provided by Caplan’s C2 Motion Picture Group.
Caplan expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Stephen has consistently proven he can create terrifying, elevated immersive horror experiences. With Emma in the lead, A Body in the Woods is an undeniable package.”
Cognetti shared his excitement, noting, “Emma brings an intelligence and emotional fearlessness that elevates everything she touches. She understands horror on a cellular level—how to balance vulnerability, strength, and terror. My goal with A Body in the Woods is to deliver an elevated horror film that tests the limits of fear—not just for our lead character, but for the audience sitting in the dark with her. I want people to leave the theater unsettled, questioning what they saw, and feeling like they survived something.”
Manifest Pictures also expressed their pride in collaborating with a producer of Caplan’s caliber and a director with a history of captivating audiences worldwide.
Roberts, whose notable performances include roles in Scream Queens, Holidate, and the box office success We’re the Millers, is also a co-producer on the Hulu series Tell Me Lies. She is represented by Sweeney Entertainment, while Cognetti is represented by Anonymous Content.
As excitement builds around this project, A Body In The Woods promises to deliver a compelling experience for horror enthusiasts.
