Indican Pictures Buys North American Rights to 1980s Horror Thriller JACKED

By AI, Created 10:40 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Indican Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to JACKED, a John Fucile-directed survival thriller set in 1987, with release planned for June 30, 2026. The film has already screened at several festivals, including TIFF and the Syracuse International Film Festival, as it builds toward its wider rollout.

Why it matters: - JACKED gives Indican Pictures a new North American genre title with a built-in 1980s horror angle and a summer release date already set. - The film’s festival run suggests early positioning with horror and thriller audiences before the June 30, 2026 launch.

What happened: - Indican Pictures acquired North American distribution rights to JACKED, a horror suspense thriller directed by John Fucile. - The film is scheduled to open on June 30, 2026. - JACKED is set in the summer of 1987. - The story follows two small-town teenagers whose trip to the lake turns into a survival fight after their car breaks down on a remote causeway. - The teenagers are hunted after dark by a stalker who knows the terrain and intends to keep them from escaping.

The details: - The film combines an 1980s setting with a modern survival-thriller structure. - Indican Pictures described the project as driven by panic, terror and psychological pursuit. - Randolph Kret said JACKED taps into the fear of being hunted and the vulnerability of isolation. - John Fucile said the goal was to make a film that feels classic and immediate while drawing on the raw tension of 1980s thrillers. - The cast includes Marla Robison, Anthony Cipriani, Wynn Reichert, Kam Perez and Tom Koch. - The production team includes producers Luc Montpellier, Kelsey Howarth and Simon Fraser. - Michael Lantz composed the score. - Michael Salvino served as cinematographer. - Simon Fraser and John Fucile wrote the script. - JACKED has screened at the Toronto Independent Film Festival, the Oregon Independent Film Festival, TIFF and the Syracuse International Film Festival. - The film’s tagline is: “WORST. NIGHT. EVER.” - More information is available on Indican Pictures’ website and the film’s site.

Between the lines: - The acquisition signals Indican Pictures is betting on a compact, atmospheric thriller that can travel well with niche audiences. - The 1987 setting and stripped-down setup point to a nostalgia play, but the marketing language also emphasizes urgency and survival over retro style alone. - The festival appearances indicate JACKED has already been used to test audience response before the release campaign ramps up.

What’s next: - Indican Pictures will move JACKED toward its June 30, 2026 North American release. - Additional marketing is likely to lean on the film’s festival history, 1980s setting and horror-thriller positioning.