Dark Star Pictures has announced today that it has acquired North American rights to action thriller THE PREY. The company is planning an October theatrical release followed by VOD and DVD release.

The film has excited audiences and critics at festivals including: Busan International Film Festival 2018, BFI London Film Festival 2018, Hawaii Film Festival 2018, Night Visions, and most recently Fantasia Film Festival 2019.

Loosely based on Richard Connell’s story of survival and adventure The Most Dangerous Game, THE PREY comes from writer/director Jimmy Henderson and the team behind genre festival hit JAILBREAK.

Undercover Chinese cop Xin (newcomer Gu Shangwei), is on a secret international mission when a surprise raid puts him in a remote Cambodian jungle prison that plays by its own rules. Ruthless warden (Vithaya Pansringarm of ONLY GOD FORGIVES ) sells prisoners as human prey for rich hunters looking for thrills in the jungle.

After years of hunting down ruthless criminals, Xin suddenly finds himself running for his life. If Xin manages to survive this sadistic game, he’ll walk out of the jungle the same way he came in: as a free man. If Xin fails, he’s just another hunting trophy.

Theatrical openings will include Los Angeles, New York, and more to be announced. The deal was negotiated by Dark Star President Michael Repsch and Pip Ngo of XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers.

“THE PREY is an exceptionally fun, high strung action film that is exhilarating from start to finish” said Repsch. “But what really drew us to the film was the societal context – specifically the look at how class systems can be taken to the extreme, which could not be more relevant in our society today.”

Directed by Jimmy Henderson (JAILBREAK) and written by Jimmy Henderson, Michael Hodgson, Kai Miller, the film also starts Byron Bishop, Sahajak Boonthanakit and Nophand Boonyai. The film is distributed by LA-based Dark Star Pictures.