Helena Howard & Inanna Sarkis Lead Meta Slasher ‘The Red Mask’

Helena Howard (I Saw the TV Glow) dives into the slasher world as a meta-horror screenwriter in The Red Mask, co-starring Inanna Sarkis (Seance) as her fiancé.

Deadline reports that Stoic has picked up worldwide sales rights and will showcase the film at this week’s European Film Market in Berlin.

The story follows Allina Green (Howard), an outspoken writer tapped to reboot a beloved ’80s horror franchise. When die-hard fans turn toxic online, sending violent threats, Allina and her fiancé Deetz (Sarkis) escape to a secluded Airbnb to workshop the script using immersive role-play.

But creative experimentation quickly turns lethal when two unexpected intruders crash their isolation — turning their horror script into a real-life nightmare.

Jake Abel (Malignant) and Kelli Garner (Lars and the Real Girl) round out the cast, with horror influencer cameos by Dead Meat’s James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca.

The feature marks Ritesh Gupta’s directorial debut, from a script by Samantha Gurash and Patrick Robert Young (Bastard). Produce credits include Atit Shah (Create Entertainment) and Aimee Schoof & Isen Robbins (Intrinsic Value Films).

“The Red Mask is a brilliantly sharp and commercially potent slasher that bridges nostalgia and contemporary cultural critique,” said McCormick. “Ritesh delivers a film that honors the genre’s legacy while pushing it forward in a way that feels urgent and globally resonant.”

“From the beginning, our ambition was to make The Red Mask a cultural event, not just another genre entry,” added Shah. “Horror has always been fearless storytelling, and we leaned into that tradition while ensuring the film hits big and viscerally in theaters.”

The Red Mask premiered at FrightFest London last summer before screening at Screamfest, cementing its status as a meta-slasher with bite.