Dimension & RADiUS-TWC Grab Aja Thriller "Horns"

Dimension Films and RADiUS-TWC have acquired U.S. rights to "Horns," a thriller film directed by Alexandre Aja and starring Daniel Radcliff. The film first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last month.

Keith Bunin wrote the screenplay, which is based off the novel of the same name by comic book author Joe Hill. The film follows an average guy, played by Radcliff, who is blamed for his girlfriend's death, and then wakes up one morning to find horns growing from his head.

This news is what many are calling the last major deal to come out of last month's Toronto Film Festival. "Horns" premiered at the 2013 festival for its theatrical release. Though the film received mixed reviews from critics and a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it was considered one of the larger titles at the Toronto Film Festival. Deadline reported that "the deal was for multiple millions, rivaling the largest deals made for the other Toronto films."

Prior to "Horns," Aja directed other horror films, including "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Piranha 3D." Bunin wrote episodes for the TV show "In Treatment," as well as the play "The Credeaux Canvas."

Aja is an acclaimed horror filmmaker, even making it into Alan Jones' Splat Pack list. Jones, from Total Film, coined the term splat pack, creating a collection of directors and producers who have directed a large amount of horror films since 2002.

In a panel on horror filmmaking this past May, writer/director Mickey Keating talked about subverting audience expectations within the expected formula. Check out John Rhodes' ScreenCraft post: Mickey Keating on Horror Screenwriting: Subverting Expectations.