Sony is expanding its horror portfolio by adapting the critically acclaimed game Mouthwashing, leveraging the established horror credentials of producer Scott Derrickson and director Karyn Kusama.
Sources indicate this move follows the studio's successful relaunch of Resident Evil with Zach Cregger. The project taps into the game's massive viral popularity, which has generated nearly one billion views on TikTok and 63 million on YouTube.
Mouthwashing holds an 88 Metacritic score and has sold nearly one million units on PC. Director Karyn Kusama, along with writers Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, previously collaborated on The Invitation (2015) and Destroyer (2018).
Sony bets on the proven creative chemistry of Kusama, Manfredi, and Hay to bring the viral, critically acclaimed horror game to the big screen.
Sony Pictures has officially secured the feature film rights to Mouthwashing, the psychological horror game developed by Sweden-based Wrong Organ and published by Critical Reflex. The acquisition follows the studio’s successful relaunch of the Resident Evil franchise with Zach Cregger’s adaptation, signaling that Sony is now setting its sights on another game to adapt. The project will be produced by Scott Derrickson, the horror filmmaker behind The Black Phone and Sinister movies, alongside C. Robert Cargill and Vince Cheng. The trio operates under their Crooked Highway banner, which holds a producing deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to produce feature films for Screen Gems. Karyn Kusama has been attached to direct the adaptation, reuniting with writers Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay. This creative trio previously worked together on the 2015 psychological horror thriller The Invitation and the 2018 Nicole Kidman thriller Destroyer. Kusama, who recently directed episodes of Yellowjackets and The Terror, is repped by WME, Black Bear and Felker McGinnis. Manfredi and Hay, whose credits include Clash of the Titans and the Ride Along films, are repped by UTA and Alan Grodin. Derrickson, who last directed The Black Phone 2 and The Gorge in 2025, is repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Ziffren Brittenham. The source material is a first-person psychological horror game that follows five crew members stranded aboard the space freighter Tulpar after it crash lands on an asteroid. The narrative explores the fractures between the crew as dwindling supplies, isolation, and mounting paranoia take hold. The game combines surreal imagery with a nonlinear narrative that examines responsibility, denial, and the consequences of unchecked power. Since its initial launch on PC in 2024, Mouthwashing has earned critical acclaim, garnering an 88 score on Metacritic and “overwhelmingly positive” user reviews on Steam. The title also won in the best narrative and players’ choice categories at the Horror Game Awards, as well as best hidden gem at the New York Game Awards. The game’s reach extends far beyond traditional gamers, having sold nearly one million units on PC. Content surrounding the game has generated 63 million views on YouTube and nearly one billion views on TikTok, indicating a significant international following. The timing of the announcement coincides with the game’s multi-platform expansion. Mouthwashing launches today on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox on PC. It will also be available through Game Pass on console and PC. The film adaptation will now join the ranks of video game properties in development, with Sony relying on the established collaborative history of its director and writing team to translate the game’s distinct surreal and nonlinear style to the screen.
