A Teenage Girl Goes to Bloody Lengths to Achieve Popularity in 'GRAFTED'

GRAFTED, the latest feature from Ocurens’ award-winning director Sasha Rainbow, is set to premiere exclusively on Shudder on January 24th, 2025. Blending razor-sharp satire with visceral body horror, Grafted has captivated critics and audiences alike, earning Sasha the Best Director award at both the Molins Horror Film Festival and Brooklyn Horror Fest. This bold and darkly comedic tale takes inspiration from cultural classics like Mean Girls and Face-Off, reimagining them with a feminist lens and unforgettable gore.

GRAFTED follows Chinese scholarship student Wei, who travels to New Zealand to study medical research at a prestigious university. Shy, introverted, and hiding a genetic facial birthmark, Wei is shunned by her social butterfly cousin Angela and her glamorous friends. Determined to change her fate, Wei immerses herself in her late father's research, working on a revolutionary skin grafting procedure that could cure her deformity. As her experiments take a dark turn, she becomes more dangerous and unhinged, willing to eliminate anyone who threatens her secret.

Director Sasha Rainbow commented, “Partnering with Shudder is a dream come true - for those of us who like our dreams dark and full of twists, and there’s no better place to unleash Grafted than with the curators of terror themselves. I can’t wait for their fearless audience to sink their teeth into this one and experience Wei’s wild and bloody pursuit of perfection.”

Grafted is also shortlisted in the feature film category at the forthcoming Gerardmer Film Festival taking place in France from 29th January through to 2nd February 2025. 

Sasha Rainbow is an award-winning filmmaker celebrated for her ability to craft stories that resonate with cultural significance and emotional impact. Her documentary Kamali was long-listed for the Academy Awards, nominated for a BAFTA, and won multiple international festival awards. Her acclaimed short film Kofi and Lartey has earned accolades including Aesthetica Festival - Best Of The Festival and Award Of Excellence - Impact Docs Awards.

“Sasha is one of the most gifted directors around at the moment and it is only fitting that her talents have been recognised with so many awards for her film Grafted”, said Emmanuelle Le Chat, managing director and founder of Ocurens UK. “Sasha is a significant part of the Ocurens’ director roster and has been with us since we first launched in the UK two years ago. We are so proud of what she has achieved and can't wait to work together on the next project.”

Rainbow’s commercial portfolio includes work such as EE Hope United, which won a Bronze Clio as well as Voice of a Woman Award winner at Cannes Lions. As a former mentee of the British Film Institute and WIF mentorship programs, Rainbow continues to push the boundaries of storytelling across genres.

With Grafted, Rainbow channels her passion for exploring themes of societal pressure, identity, and acceptance into a satirical yet poignant horror masterpiece. This Shudder debut marks a thrilling next chapter in her career, solidifying her place as one of the most exciting new voices in genre filmmaking.