Author: Newsroom
NEW YORK (March 19, 2025) — Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to The Surrender from Blue Finch Films. Starring Colby Minifie (The Boys) and Kate Burton (Emmy nominee for Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy), this critically acclaimed supernatural horror debut from Julia Max made its world premiere as part of the Midnighter section of SXSW 2025 earlier this month. Shudder will be releasing The Surrender in North America, UKI, and ANZ on May 23.
Immediately after its SXSW debut, THE SURRENDER earned high praise among critics, with Deadline.com declaring “If Charlie Kaufman scripted Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell, it would look something like this,” Bloody Disgusting saying “a visceral, thrilling and high-stakes vision… marks Max as one to watch,” and FandomWire calling it “A Genuinely Scary Indie Horror Picture.”
A fraught mother-daughter relationship is put to a terrifying test when the family patriarch dies and the grieving mother hires a mysterious stranger to bring her husband back from the dead. As the brutal resurrection spirals out of control, both women must confront their differences as they fight for their lives – and for each other. A haunting tale, The Surrender marks a deeply personal yet universal journey through loss and grief.
Director Julia Max penned the script and also produced alongside Mia Chang (It Follows), Lovell Holder (Lavender Men), Ian McDonald (Woman of the Hour) and Robert J. Ulrich (The Boys). Susan Gelb (The Howling), Adam Maffei (Griffin in Summer) and Rob Massar (Peak Season) served as executive producers. Colby Minifie (The Boys) and Kate Burton (Grey’s Anatomy) lead the cast alongside Neil Sandilands (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).
“The Surrender’s fusion of body horror and the supernatural crafts an atmospheric descent into the abyss of loss and consequence, brought to life with brilliant performances from Colby Minifie and Kate Burton,” said SVP of Shudder Acquisitions and Production Emily Gotto. “This is bold, audacious storytelling—one that lingers long after the credits fade— and announces the arrival of Julia Max as a striking new voice in the genre.”
“I am absolutely thrilled that The Surrender has found a home with Shudder. They have such a wonderfully curated collection of horror films and a dedicated audience of horror fanatics. I feel lucky to be included within their ranks,” said Max.
Blue Finch’s current international slate also includes the Berlinale selected Lesbian Space Princess, SXSW title Redux Redux, and Jean Luc Herbulot’s Sitges award winning title Zero.