Independent Film Company (IFC) and horror streaming giant Shudder have snapped up Saccharine, the latest supernatural body horror from Natalie Erika James (Relic, Apartment 7A), ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this week.

James’ third feature promises to be a chilling descent into obsession and decay. Set in Australia, Saccharine follows lovelorn medical student Hana, who dives headfirst into a bizarre weight-loss craze involving the ingestion of human ashes—only to find herself hunted by a dark, sinister force tied to her macabre habit.

The film stars Midori Francis (Grey’s Anatomy), Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$), and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time). James reunites with Relic producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, continuing a successful collaboration in genre cinema.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with IFC and Shudder again after our experience releasing Relic in 2020,” James said. “They’re an incredible team with a deep understanding of genre and a real commitment to filmmakers.”

Shudder’s Senior VP of Acquisitions and Productions, Emily Gotto, added, “Natalie announced herself as a singular force with her haunting debut Relic. With Saccharine, she returns with a chilling, utterly original vision that pierces our deepest obsessions with body image, reaffirming her work as a leading voice in genre cinema.”

Produced by Carver Films and Thrum Films, Saccharine was financed with support from Screen Australia, in partnership with XYZ Films, IPR.VC, and Stan, in association with VicScreen. The film is set for a theatrical release across North America and the UK, followed by a streaming debut on Shudder sometime in 2026.