Vertical Entertainment, the global indie distributor known for curating high-profile films, has acquired rights to Breed of Greed, a psychological thriller from director Ralph Hemecker (Once Upon a Time). The feature will debut in theaters on Friday, September 26, 2025, and release on VOD platforms the same day, inviting audiences to choose between big-screen immersion and at-home suspense.
The film centers on the once-powerful Wendolyn pharmaceutical dynasty. When the family’s patriarch dies, the surviving heirs converge to settle his estate, reopening old wounds and reigniting rivalries that never truly faded. Wayward son Henry Wendolyn, played by Andrew Boszhardt, senses that greed alone cannot explain the escalating chaos. As tensions rise and loyalties fracture, Henry begins to uncover a sinister presence manipulating events from the shadows, suggesting that something supernatural is entwined with the family’s downfall.
Hemecker co-wrote the screenplay with Boszhardt and Otto Eckstein, and the trio also produced the film. Describing the creative intent, Boszhardt says the team aimed for relevance without didacticism, “We wanted to make a film that was topical but also timeless. Everyone loves a good downfall story, and we tried to make one that was entertaining and fun, not preachy. We could not be more excited to have Vertical as our partner.”
Casting pairs established gravitas with rising energy. Gina Gershon (Bound, Face/Off) brings her signature intensity, while Chelsea Gilligan (Star-Crossed), Madison Lewis (Alexander IRL), and Adrian Enscoe (Dickinson) round out the ensemble with fresh chemistry and emotional lift. On September 26, viewers will be invited into a world where family secrets, scandal, and unseen forces collide. It’s a cinematic experience that embodies Vertical’s ongoing influence on the independent film landscape.
Vertical’s Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi praised the movie’s tonal balance and topical edge, “Ralph has done a remarkable job of balancing horror thrills with a dark sense of humor rooted in modern headlines of the privileged class. We look forward to presenting the film to North American audiences.”
Photo Courtesy: Vertical Entertainment / Breed of Greed (Andrew Boszhardt and Adrian Enscoe)
Piantedosi negotiated the deal on Vertical’s behalf, with VMI representing the filmmakers.
Breed of Greed is more than a standard horror genre entry. Hemecker’s film probes privilege, power, and moral decay through a genre lens, using supernatural unease to amplify the human conflicts already roiling the Wendolyn home. The setup promises suspense and satirical bite in equal measure. It’s the rare thriller designed to spark post-credits conversation about what corrupts, who benefits, and how far a legacy can stretch before it snaps.
The acquisition also underscores Vertical’s momentum. The distributor’s upcoming slate includes Kristin Scott Thomas’s My Mother’s Wedding, starring Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, and Freida Pinto; Ron Howard’s Eden, which premiered at TIFF 2024 and features Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, and Sydney Sweeney; and 2024’s SXSW selection The Threesome, directed by Chad Hartigan and starring Zoey Deutch. Grouped together, these projects signal a continued appetite for stories that entertain while engaging with the culture at large.
As the fall movie season ramps up, Breed of Greed looks poised to earn attention for its mix of psychological tension, dark humor, and an exploration of the shadow side of wealth and family legacy. Whether you come for Gershon’s magnetic screen presence, curiosity about Boszhardt’s multi-hyphenate turn, or the promise of a smart supernatural jolt, the film offers multiple points of entry.
Circle September 26 on the calendar. That’s when Breed of Greed invites viewers into a labyrinth of secrets, scandals, and spectral meddling, a tightly wound descent that aims to entertain while asking pointed questions about power, inheritance, and the unseen forces that shape both.
