Deadline reports that Heather Graham has signed on to headline "Entity Within," a fresh cinematic venture rooted in the infamous haunting of Doris Bither in 1974, now being produced by Alliance Media Partners—the very studio that previously delivered Graham's 2023 horror hit, "Suitable Flesh." Slated for unveiling at the Cannes Market, this reinterpretation of the haunting tale co-stars Mimi Rogers (renowned for her roles in "Ginger Snaps," "The Rapture," "The X-Files," and more), Morgan Peter Brown ("Absentia"), and Kevin Keppy ("Smile"), and is helmed by director Nick Simon ("The Girl in The Photographs") in collaboration with screenwriter Thomas Fenton of "Saw IV" fame.
AMP's Anthony Bruckner enthused, "We are absolutely delighted to reunite with Heather Graham and embark on this journey with Nick Simon to bring 'Entity Within' to Cannes. This is a high-concept horror film brimming with emotional depth, and we eagerly anticipate sharing it with international buyers."
For the uninitiated, Bither's claims of being sexually assaulted by an invisible, misogynistic spirit on multiple occasions garnered attention from parapsychologists and novelist Frank De Felitta, author of "Audrey Rose." De Felitta recounted Bither's ordeal in his 1978 novel, "The Entity," which was later adapted into a 1982 film of the same name, directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Barbara Hershey. Martin Scorsese even hailed this adaptation among the scariest films ever made, a testament to Furie's prowess, who also has credits like "Superman IV: Quest for Peace" under his belt.
The 1982 film boasts an Oscar-worthy performance by Hershey and a haunting, percussion-laden soundtrack by Charles Bernstein so memorable that Quentin Tarantino incorporated it into a scene in "Inglourious Basterds." "The Entity" stands as one of the most disturbing films ever made about a ghostly haunting, perhaps explaining why 20th Century Fox scrapped plans for an Atari 2600 tie-in video game where players were tasked with using paddles to propel the ghostly rapist into a higher plane of existence.
Partly due to its grim subject matter, the film echoes "The X-Files" by suggesting a logical, non-paranormal explanation for the events, should viewers choose to embrace it. As is typical with such narratives, the alternative makes the prospect of this poor woman actually being terrorized by a higher-dimensional monster even more terrifying. Imagine that.
It's noteworthy that, despite being inspired by the same source material, Deadline's article makes no mention of the 1982 film, suggesting that this new project isn't officially based on Furie's adaptation. Producer Missy Valdez clarified in the article, "This film is grounded in a true story, and that truth is bone-chilling. It is both an honor and a challenge to bring Doris's raw and terrifying experiences to the screen with sensitivity and dignity. This is an elevated horror film that seamlessly blends emotional depth with real-life terror, and we firmly believe it will strike a chord with both horror enthusiasts and new audiences alike."
Indeed, the story, described as "so shocking, so threatening, it will frighten you beyond all imagination," as per one of the original taglines of "The Entity," invites a fresh exploration. Best of luck, Heather Graham.
