Blue Finch Films has taken on worldwide sales rights to “American Dollhouse,” John Valley’s horror feature that world-premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival, and will introduce the title to buyers at the Cannes Film Market. The U.K.-based sales and distribution outfit is partnering on the project with Roosevelt Film Lab.
Valley wrote and directed the film, which centers on a woman who returns to the house she grew up in, where a neighboring man’s fixation on her escalates into lethal danger. The film is produced by David Axe, Samuel Butler, and Shane Greb, alongside Roosevelt Film Lab’s Christian Sosa and Jon Wroblewski. The cast includes Hailley Laurén (“My Stretch of Texas Ground”), Kelsey Pribilski (“Man Finds Tape”), Tinus Seaux, Danielle Evon Ploeger, and Richard C. Jones.
Sosa and Wroblewski handled negotiations for Roosevelt Film Lab; Chapman represented Blue Finch.
“I wanted to create a story that deconstructs the false narratives we tell ourselves about ‘home’ and ‘family,’ all within the context of a blood-soaked genre film,” Valley said. “Bringing ‘American Dollhouse’ to Cannes is an incredible opportunity to share this nightmare of a ride with a global audience.”
Wroblewski, producer and co-founder of Roosevelt Film Lab, added: “This is the kind of bold, uncompromising film we’re thrilled to back at Roosevelt. ‘American Dollhouse’ isn’t just a gripping horror thriller – it also dives deep into the discomforts of suburban life and the haunting shadows of our past.”
Chapman said: “After witnessing firsthand the glowing audience response at SXSW, we’re thrilled to be bringing ‘American Dollhouse’ to buyers. Led by two powerhouse performances, this boundary-pushing horror film will no doubt delight – and horrify – buyers at Cannes.”
“American Dollhouse” joins a Blue Finch sales slate that includes “Bowels of Hell,” a Rotterdam title from Oscar-winning production company RT Features; SXSW sci-fi thriller “Imposters”; and “Dolly,” which opened theatrically through IFC last month.
Roosevelt Film Lab, co-founded by Wroblewski and Sosa, operates out of Austin, Texas.
Leave a Reply