In a major move ahead of this year’s Fantastic Fest, RLJE Films and horror streaming platform Shudder have jointly acquired the North American rights to Night Patrol, a gritty new horror-thriller from filmmaker Ryan Prows.
The film, which marks Prows’ second feature after Lowlife, is set to have its world premiere at the 2025 edition of the genre festival in Austin, Texas. Night Patrol is scheduled for theatrical release across North America in 2026.
Co-written by Prows alongside The Penguin’s Shaye Ogbonna, Tim Cairo (Off Ramp), and Jake Gibson (He Bled Neon), the film plunges viewers into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles. The story follows an LAPD officer who finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the city’s street gangs after uncovering a terrifying secret within a corrupt police task force. The sinister revelation threatens the very community he was raised in.
Boasting an all-star cast, Night Patrol features Jermaine Fowler (The Blackening) in the lead role, with appearances from Justin Long (Barbarian), RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall), rapper Freddie Gibbs (Down with the King), former wrestling star CM Punk (Girl on the Third Floor), hip-hop artist YG (White Boy Rick), Flying Lotus (Ash), Dermot Mulroney (Scream IV), Jon Oswald (Lowlife), and Nicki Micheaux (“The Shield”).
David S. Goyer and Keith Levine of Phantom Four lead the production effort, alongside James Harris for Tea Shop Films and Josh Goldbloom. XYZ Films, which is handling global sales, also serves as executive producer alongside Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, and Grady Craig of BondIt Media Capital. Other executive producers include Mark Lane (Tea Shop Films), YG, Narineh Hacopian, and Phantom Four’s Gracie Wheelan and David Tracy.
Speaking about the acquisition, director Ryan Prows expressed his excitement: “I am thrilled that we’re partnering with RLJE and Shudder to bring Night Patrol to theaters — it’s been a long road to get here, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to help push this fun, rollercoaster of a film out into the world … I’m beyond excited we get to blast our wild film far and wide to a hungry, unsuspecting audience.
Mark Ward, Chief Acquisitions Officer at RLJE Films, added: “Night Patrol is an audacious, high-stakes horror-thriller with a powerhouse ensemble cast and heart-pounding tension … Blending community grit, suspense and unflinching intensity led by Ryan Prows, this acquisition marks a dream-realized moment for us going into its world premiere.”
The distribution deal was negotiated by Mark Ward and Brandon Harmer on behalf of RLJE Films and Shudder, with XYZ Films representing the filmmakers.
