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“Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Jurassic Park” actor Joseph Mazzello leads the cast of “A Grim Life,” a supernatural thriller set in Los Angeles’ Cecil Hotel.
Hong Kong outfit Cappu Films has achieved international sales, having been featured at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s TIFFCOM fair.
Francesco Lucente writes and directs. Mazzello, whose credits also include The Pacific, plays Tom, a down-on-his-luck filmmaker who pays his bills while cleaning toilets and can’t stop reworking the one script he has. A friend leads him to “Bose,” a lost silent picture from 1931, and Tom’s hunt for an artistic breakthrough leads him to a dark secret.
Max Beasley (“Jack Ryan”) stars as producer Joe, Wes Studd (“Avatar: Fire and Ashes”) as Nick, Carl Lumble (“Captain America: Brave New World”) as Henry and Arnetia Walker (“Buck”) as Chelsea. Studi is a 2019 Academy Honorary Award winner.
The building itself does a lot of work. The film draws its scares from hotel corridors and hidden rooms, relying on sound, shadow and Tom’s deepening isolation to intensify the fear.
Lucente also manufactures The project will enter pre-production in December 2026 ahead of filming in January 2027, with delivery in July 2027.
“Grim Life is a deeply personal project for me that explores the dark side of ambition, obsession and the sacrifices we make to pursue our dreams,” Lucente said.
Cappu first presented the film to buyers in Busan and is continuing these conversations until the cameras roll. Janice Wu of Cappu Films said that Hotel Cecil and The Lost Film give the project an immediately compelling premise, “while Tom’s desperation gives the story an emotional center.” He added: “Following our work with Francesco on ‘Starbright’, we are delighted to continue our relationship with a project that combines a distinctive atmosphere with an experienced cast.”
Lucent previously directed the drama Badland and the fantasy Starbright starring Ted Levine, John Rhys-Davies and Diego Boneta.
In addition to Starbright, the Capu slate has another Lukent fantasy, Sinbad, plus action titles Lion Fist and Red Bird. The company’s catalog includes horror, fantasy, action and arthouse, as well as television series and library titles from the golden age of Hong Kong cinema.
