Haley Bishop headlines Mark Pritchard’s survival-horror thriller as Clever Creature brings the boundary-pushing project to AFM.
Haley Bishop, best known for starring in AMC Shudder’s hit horror film Host, is set to lead the upcoming action-horror feature For the Good of the Herd, which Toronto-based Clever Creature Inc. will introduce at the American Film Market.
The film, written and directed by Mark Pritchard, is scheduled to begin principal photography in the U.K. this November. Clever Creature’s managing partner Michaelangelo Masangkay will produce alongside Michael Galvan and Sebastien Bazile of Screen Anthology, with Galvan collaborating alongside U.K. producer Tim Willrich of Limbo Pictures.
For the Good of the Herd blends survival horror with psychological thriller elements, exploring the extremes people reach for self-preservation as societal structures collapse. Bishop stars as Zoe, a woman haunted by past trauma who must confront her own darker instincts in order to endure a world unravelling around her.
Pritchard describes the film as a study in how belief systems can mutate under pressure, turning humans into “the most terrifying monsters” as the lines between conviction and delusion blur. He notes that the narrative probes unsettling questions about predatory power, trust, and the human capacity for barbarism.
Bishop said she was drawn to the character’s internal battle, particularly Zoe’s struggle to escape the guilt of her past while ultimately embracing her more ruthless impulses to survive.
She called the role both emotionally complex and thrilling, adding that playing a “blood-covered, badass final girl” was a long-held dream. The actress believes the film’s fusion of paranoia and visceral gore will resonate strongly with audiences looking for innovative genre storytelling.
Masangkay emphasized that the project embodies the type of boundary-pushing, genre-driven filmmaking Clever Creature is committed to championing.
He praised Pritchard’s vision for tapping into primal fears while engaging with deeper social themes, and expressed excitement about presenting the film to international buyers with Bishop at the forefront.
Executive producers on the film include Michael Tomczyk, Kevin Sand, Giselle Gastell, Bianca Consuji and Donovan Rodriques.
The project also reflects Clever Creature’s recent growth in developing and representing international genre features across horror, action and elevated cinema, including its recently announced slate of Roger Corman remake titles.
