Prepare yourself for a new level of terror—The Wretched Devours, the highly anticipated sequel to the indie horror hit The Wretched, promises to escalate the intensity of body horror and gruesome scares like never before. But here's where it gets controversial: Are horror sequels really capable of upping the ante without losing what made the original special? This new chapter may challenge those expectations in a bold way.
Back in May 2020, The Wretched, created by the talented sibling duo Brett and Drew Pierce, was released by IFC Midnight just as the COVID-19 pandemic brought traditional movie theaters to a halt. With cinemas closed and blockbuster releases postponed, audiences turned to an almost forgotten venue—the drive-in theater. Surprisingly, The Wretched dominated this niche, becoming the number one film in America for six weeks straight. Riding on that success, the Pierce brothers are now moving forward with The Wretched Devours, ready to deepen the horror experience with even more intense body horror elements and chilling frights, according to an exclusive report from Bloody Disgusting.
To refresh your memory, The Wretched introduced us to Ben, a rebellious teen sent to spend his summer with his father at a local marina after his parents split up. What begins as a typical adolescent struggle escalates quickly when Ben uncovers a terrifying secret behind his neighbors: a malevolent forest spirit has possessed the parents, using a sinister “game of house” to prey on the local children, erasing their very existence. Unheeded by the adults around him, Ben embarks on a dangerous mission to stop the skin-stealing witch’s reign of terror.
The Pierce brothers have revealed to Variety that this sequel will expand the scale of horror from a single family to an entire town. In The Wretched Devours, the focus shifts to a small-town deputy who gets drawn into mysterious cases of missing children. Forced to confront a horrifying truth, he discovers that the shape-shifting Wretch has been terrorizing families in the community for over a century, amplifying the stakes significantly.
Fans of indie horror will be interested to learn that Katie Parker (known for Next Exit and The Fall of the House of Usher) and Sam Huntington (The Last Stop in Yuma Country, Fanboys) have joined the cast to breathe life into this chilling new chapter. Brett and Drew Pierce are again at the helm as the writers, directors, and producers under their Little Runaway Productions banner. They shared their excitement with Bloody Disgusting, stating, “We’re beyond thrilled to revisit the terrifying world of The Wretched, diving deeper into the mythology of our fan-favorite witch. This time, we’re cranking the body horror and grotesque frights all the way up to eleven!”
Supporting producers Chang Tseng, Ed Polgardy, and Travis Cultreri join the Pierce brothers in bringing this vision to life. Production is set to kick off this week in the atmospheric setting of Syracuse, New York.
Were you captivated by the original The Wretched? Are you eager—or perhaps cautious—to see if The Wretched Devours can truly deliver more intense body horror and chilling scares? This is the part most people miss—how far can horror go before it becomes too much, or loses its charm? Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below, and let the debate begin.
About the Author:
As Horror News Editor, the author is a passionate cinephile with a deep love for classics and cult favorites alike. Their favorite films span iconic franchises like Friday the 13th, visionary directors such as George A. Romero and Kevin Smith, and cherished genre films from Halloween to Let the Right One In. They enjoy everything from '80s slashers to modern cinematic universes, podcasts, world travel (especially Brazil), and the rich culture of grindhouse and drive-in movie venues. Their diverse tastes and extensive experience bring a well-rounded perspective to their horror genre commentary.
