DF Sandberg directs horror movie Mommy’s Home for Lionsgate

David F. Sandberg is diving back into the murky waters of psychological horror, bringing his knack for unsettling family dynamics to a brand new project. The director, known for crafting viral hits like Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation, has signed on to direct Mommy’s Home, a film set to be developed by Lionsgate.

Mommy’s Home isn’t just another scary movie; it promises a deeply uncomfortable exploration of family bonds under extreme pressure. The story centers on a young father whose domestic life spirals into utter chaos when his mother, who has been cryogenically preserved, is unfrozen and unexpectedly sent to live with him. Adding another layer of delicious strangeness, the narrative reveals that the mother was only twenty-four years old when she was frozen, heightening the stakes of the resulting family drama.

The premise immediately grants the film the potential for potent psychological horror, blending the familiar discomfort of family tension with truly unsettling supernatural elements. The logline promises a narrative where a mother’s return shakes the foundations of a young family, creating a scenario ripe for both intense emotional stakes and genuine scares.

The screenplay, penned by James Morosini, promises a tonal mix that leans into uncomfortable familial dynamics, drawing comparisons to films like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. Morosini reportedly envisioned a blend of psychological tension with massive horror swings, aiming for something akin to the unsettling vibe of Barbarian and the slick, disturbing aesthetic of M3GAN, resulting in what is described as a “fun, scary, sexy genre blend.”

Sandberg has built a formidable reputation within the horror landscape, successfully transitioning from viral shorts to major feature films. His track record includes the massive success of Lights Out, which grossed nearly $150 million worldwide, and the acclaimed Annabelle: Creation, which contributed significantly to the Conjuring Universe. He continues to demonstrate versatility, having ventured into superhero territory with films like Shazam! and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and most recently anchored the big-screen adaptation of the PlayStation game with Until Dawn.

This varied history confirms Sandberg’s continued commitment to the genre. Beyond Mommy’s Home, he is actively developing other projects that hint at a continued obsession with the macabre. This portfolio includes A Little Slice of Hell for Paramount Pictures, a tale involving two underpaid supermarket employees and a customer from Hell, and a new adaptation of the classic The Amityville Horror for Amazon MGM.

The production team for Mommy’s Home is stacked with talent, including producers Craig Flores, Dawn Olmstead, and Anonymous Content, alongside Sandberg and his frequent collaborator Lotta Losten. Executive producers Nathan Kahane, Morosini, David Levine, Garrett Kemble, and Ryan Schwartz bring deep experience to the table, ensuring the project is handled with precision.

While there is still no release date or casting information for Mommy’s Home, the sheer collection of projects Sandberg is pursuing—from supernatural classics to intensely domestic horror—suggests that this new venture is set to be one of the most intriguing and unsettling additions to his increasingly eclectic cinematic universe.