Magnet Releasing Takes North America On Michiel Blanchart Thriller ‘Night Call’

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired North American rights to Night Call, a French thriller marking the feature directorial debut of Michiel Blanchart, whose live-action short You’re Dead Hélène was shortlisted for the 94th Oscars.

Slated for release later this year, the film follows a young locksmith who gets way more than he bargained for after responding to an emergency call that puts him in the crosshairs of a ruthless mob boss.

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One evening, Mady (Jonathan Feltre) – a student by day, locksmith by night– receives an emergency call from Claire to open a lock. But the door the young woman wants to open isn’t hers, and the bag of cash she runs away with isn’t hers either. It belongs to Yannick (Romain Duris), a sinister crime boss who blames Mady and will stop at nothing to retrieve his stolen goods. In a city shaken by protests, Mady has only one night to prove his innocence and save his neck. What started out as an ordinary night shift turns into an action-packed, adrenaline-fueled race against dawn through Brussels’ underbelly.

Jonas Bloquet (The Nun) also stars in the film produced by Boucan (Viva Riva, A Wedding) and Quad (The Intouchables, The Death of Stalin). Producers are Michael Goldberg, Boris Van Gils, Margaux Marciano and Nicolas Duval Adassovsky. The film will be released in France on August 28.

“In a short period, Michiel Blanchart has demonstrated a unique vision across horror, romance, comedy, fantasy, and now a whip smart feature thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats,” said Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley in a joint statement.

Added Blanchart, “I am so excited and honored to be working with the distributor who released many of my favorite films, among them THE HOST, I SAW THE DEVIL, MOTHER and THE GUILTY. I grew up watching American movies, so it is a dream come true to have my film screening in cinemas in the U.S.”

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia Pictures SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, and Gaumont EVP International Sales and Distribution Alexis Cassanet on behalf of the filmmakers.

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