From a young age, Danielle Harris was building a reputation as a scream queen. Her first-ever role on the big screen came in 1988, when she took over for Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode as the new protagonist of the Halloween franchise, the seven-year-old Jamie Lloyd. After appearing in Halloween 4 and 5, she'd only continue to add more horror and other genre movies to her resume, from the classic dark comedy Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead to the Hatchet slasher sequels, Urban Legend, the 2023 thriller Natty Knocks, and Rob Zombie's two Halloween remake films. Now, she's just wrapped production on her latest tale of terror, The Devouring, and Collider is excited to share the first image.
Directed by horror maestro Chris McGowan, The Devouring centers on Charles (Chandler Rylko), a psychology professor who has just arrived in town and is immediately captivated by the charming, ethereal café owner, Louise (Harris). Immediately, the two feel a spark between each other, and it doesn't take long before things get hot and heavy after hours. Unfortunately for Charles, he doesn't realize until he's already tied down in a chair that this is no hook-up. Louise has been playing him right into her hands, planning to offer him as an annual sacrifice. However, when the ritual goes awry, she and her brother find the tables turned as an evil spirit seeks to devour their flesh. The café becomes a hunting ground as the crew tries to stay alive in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
Our image captures Harris as the captivating Louise, though her expression hints that something is horribly wrong going on within the café. The vibes inside her establishment are a mix of cozy and eerie, with a look that suggests things can go bump in the night when the lights get low. In addition to Harris and Rylko, Masters of Sex star Kevin Fonteyne and FBI: Most Wanted alum Gioya Tuma-Waku will be trapped in the haunted setting, with the former playing Louise's brother Ben.
'The Devouring' Hails From a Team Packed With Horror Experience
McGowan not only directed but also co-wrote and produced The Devouring with Reine Swart, who previously penned the post-apocalyptic adventure flick BOS and has appeared on-screen in Z Nation. This marks McGowan's third feature, following Chasing Nightmares and the fantastical horror thriller You Don't Belong Here. The latter, like Devouring, was executive produced by Sterling Beaumon, who's perhaps best known for his time on Lost, The Killing, and the Angus Cloud-led thriller Your Lucky Day. Of late, Beaumon has been deeply involved on the production side of the horror genre, previously starring in and backing last year's screenlife flick Don't Log Off with Ariel Winter, as well as 2022's Confession with Michael Ironside. He's also a co-producer on The Third Parent, another upcoming horror based on the creepypasta "Tommy Taffy" that's been picked up by Bleecker Street for release in August, with Crispin Glover and Rob Lowe starring.
In an official statement about The Devouring, Beaumon hailed Harris for her ability to easily slide into this more manipulative horror role thanks to her experience in the genre. With McGowan's intentional touch and the rich performances of the rest of the cast, he believes everything comes together to make something special.
"Harris carries The Devouring with the ease of the scream queen she is. I’m very excited to be collaborating with McGowan again and bringing this film to market. Devouring is that rare, meticulously crafted film that feels both daring and inevitable. A singular vision brought to life with remarkable control. Director Chris McGowan shapes every frame with intention, while the stellar ensemble around Harris elevates the story with performances so textured and organic they stay with you long after the credits roll. We are very excited to bring it to market.”
The Devouring does not have a release date yet. In the meantime, get a first look at the film with our exclusive image above and stay tuned here at Collider as more information comes out.