Cineverse plans to release the Turkish zombie drama “The Funeral” this fall across all platforms, including its Bloody Disgusting-powered streaming service. The entertainment company acquired the film out of Berlinale.
Director Orçun Behram tells the story of 40-year-old Cemal, a lonely hearse driver who has been given a secret task: a young girl named Zeynep has been murdered and her body needs to be delivered to her family. As he hits the road, he hears Zeynep rise from the dead. He is mesmerized by her and begins to fall in love with the zombified girl, going as far as to kill for her. The police start a serial killer hunt throughout the country as the pair continue on to find her family.
The film stars Ahmet Rifat Sungar as Cemal and Cansu Türedi as Zeynep. Behram produced the movie with film producer Müge Özen.
“The Funeral is a captivating zombie love story with serious bite,” said Brad Miska, vice president of horror content at Screambox.
Screambox is a streaming service catered toward all things horror — the supernatural, slashers, classics, cult, psychological and more.
“The Funeral” has been shown at film festivals including Motel X, Beyond Fest, Sitges, Leeds IFF, Cottbus IFF, Imagine FF, Fancine Málaga, Terror Molins, Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre and Gérardmer IFFF.
The acquisition deal was negotiated by Director of Acquisitions Brandon Hill on behalf of Cineverse, Matteo Lovadina at Reel Suspects and Pip Ngo of XYZ Films. The company has yet to announce a premiere date for the film.
