Psychological horror Saccharine filming in Victoria

Director and writer Natalie Erika James, actor Madeleine Madden (plays Alanya) and VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher, photo by Narelle Portanier.

Women are leading the way on both sides of the camera on Saccharine, the third feature film by Victorian filmmaker Natalie Erika James (Relic, Apartment 7A). 

Delivering a boost for the local screen industry, Saccharine has created 250 jobs for Victorian crew, local cast and extras, including four skills development opportunities, in addition to injecting over $8 million into the Victorian economy.   

The production has filmed across Melbourne, including at Docklands Studios Melbourne and La Trobe universities, Brunswick and Beaumaris. Post-production will also take place in Victoria. 

Saccharine marks the solo writing debut for writer-director Natalie Erika James, who has established herself as a distinctive new voice following breakout horror hit Relic and the recently released Apartment 7A.  

Saccharine follows Hana, a lovelorn medical student who becomes terrorised by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.  

Midori Francis (Grey's Anatomy, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Daytime Emmy Award nominee for Dash & Lily) stars as Hana. Danielle Macdonald (The Tourist, Patti Cake$, Dumplin’) plays Josie, Hana’s best friend and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time, Strife, Tidelands) plays Alanya, a personal trainer and fitness influencer.  

Written and directed by Natalie Erika James and produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Carver Films (Run Rabbit Run, Relic, Snowtown). 

The production joins a raft of major projects filming in the state, including TV series All Her Fault and The Family Next Door and feature films War Machine and Beneath the Storm.  

Saccharine is a Carver Films and Thrum Films Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia, XYZ in conjunction with IPR.VC, and Stan, in association with VicScreen. The project has been supported by the Victorian Government through VicScreen’s Victorian Production Fund.  

Saccharine will be distributed theatrically in Australia and New Zealand by Maslow Entertainment and will launch as a Stan Original Film on Stan. XYZ Films is handling world sales. 

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Minister Brooks said, “Local talent and stories are the beating heart of our screen industry. The Allan Labor Government is proud to back this Victorian team to bring Saccharine to life as part of a strong pipeline of film and television projects that are creating local jobs and boosting our economy.”  

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “Natalie Erika James is one of Victoria’s most distinctive talents, and VicScreen is thrilled to support the production of her third feature film Saccharine, which promises a thrilling female-led spin on the horror genre. Victoria has a strong track record of producing world class genre films and Saccharine has all the right ingredients be our next critical and commercial success.” 

Writer-director Natalie Erika James said, “There is so much toxic messaging around weight and appearance that permeates every corner of our culture. Saccharine is an intimate look into one woman’s struggle with body image, self-worth, and shame-driven compulsion, told through a supernatural body-horror with a queer lens and an edge of the absurd.” 

Producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, Carver Films said, “Saccharine explodes off the page with Natalie’s bold vision and to team up with her again is wonderful. As a wholly Victorian team of creatives, it is such a pleasure to film in our home state. VicScreen have been incredibly supportive and proactive as a partner, and we couldn't have got to this point without them.”