Blasphemous: Karen Gillan, Josh Hutcherson and Clive Owen Lead High-Octane Exorcism Thriller
Another exorcism horror film is heading into production, but Blasphemous is aiming for something far more chaotic than candles, Latin chanting, and concerned priests standing in doorways. This one promises movement, tension, and the kind of escalating panic usually reserved for crime thrillers.
Karen Gillan, Josh Hutcherson, and Clive Owen headline the film, which is being launched to buyers at the European Film Market by North.Five.Six. and CAA Media Finance. With a concept described as “The Exorcist meets Training Day,” Blasphemous looks set to fuse possession horror with gritty, character-driven thriller energy.
That comparison alone suggests this is less about a contained ritual and more about everything going spectacularly wrong in public.
Blasphemous Plot: A Possession Horror That Refuses to Sit Still
The story follows a rookie priest, played by Josh Hutcherson, who is partnered with a seasoned, deeply devout mentor portrayed by Clive Owen. Their assignment seems straightforward on paper. They must transport a possessed young woman, played by Karen Gillan, to a secure location where an exorcism can safely take place.
Naturally, horror films have a strict “no such thing as straightforward” policy.
The possessed woman escapes, turning a controlled religious procedure into a volatile manhunt. What was meant to be a spiritual crisis handled behind closed doors becomes a dangerous and unpredictable situation spiralling out in the open. Instead of a single room and a crucifix, the film shifts into pursuit, pressure, and constantly shifting control between captors and captive.
It is an exorcism horror story where the demon is not content to wait politely on a bed.
Luke Piotrowski’s Black List Script and Horror Credentials
Blasphemous is written and directed by Luke Piotrowski, whose screenplay landed on the 2023 Black List, the industry’s annual roundup of the most talked-about unproduced scripts. That alone tends to get attention, but Piotrowski also brings serious genre experience.
His previous writing credits include The Night House, a psychological horror film praised for its slow-burning dread and emotional weight, and the recent Hellraiser reboot, which reintroduced Clive Barker’s sadomasochistic nightmare mythology to modern audiences. That track record suggests Blasphemous will balance character psychology with supernatural horror, rather than leaning purely on shock.
If anything, the promise here is tension layered over theology and fear.
Karen Gillan, Josh Hutcherson and Clive Owen Bring Genre Weight
The cast gives the project immediate credibility. Karen Gillan is known globally for franchise work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Jumanji films, but she has consistently dipped into darker material, bringing emotional intensity that suits psychological horror. Playing the possessed woman puts her at the violent centre of the story.
Josh Hutcherson has already proven his genre appeal through The Hunger Games and the recent horror hit Five Nights at Freddy’s. As the inexperienced priest, he represents the audience perspective dropped into escalating terror.
Clive Owen brings gravitas and authority. With performances in Children of Men, Closer, and Inside Man, he is well positioned to play a hardened, faith-driven mentor whose confidence may be tested by events spiralling beyond doctrine.
Production Team and Release Momentum
Blasphemous is backed by a heavyweight producing team. Scott Strauss produces for Badlands, alongside Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for Thunder Road. Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia produce through Seven Bucks Productions, with Gillan and Jess Biddle producing for Red Riot Pictures. Executive producers include Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, and Warren Goz.
Production is set to begin in New York this August, positioning the film as a fast-moving project in the current wave of possession horror.
Why Blasphemous Stands Out in Modern Exorcism Horror
Exorcism horror has never gone away, but many entries stick to familiar structures. Blasphemous looks ready to shake that up by injecting urgency, movement, and thriller pacing into the subgenre. Instead of watching evil contained in one room, the horror spreads outward.
With a Black List script, experienced horror creatives, and a cast that blends blockbuster presence with dramatic credibility, Blasphemous is shaping up to be one of the more aggressive and unpredictable exorcism thrillers on the horizon.
Possession horror is evolving. This one is not waiting politely for the ritual to start.
