Dubai-based distribution and production outfit Oceana Studios has picked up worldwide sales rights to thriller “Tonic,” starring Billy Blair (“Doc Holliday”) and Ed Westwick (“Gossip Girl”).
Written and directed by Derek Presley (“Boon”) and produced by U.S. production company Muscular Puppy, the film follows Sebastian Poe (Blair), a washed-up piano player performing across seedy jazz bars who ends up making a murderous deal with corrupt local police officer Terry Rush (Jason Coviello) to repay a drug debt. Over the course of one night, Sebastian is plunged into the dark streets of Dallas’ Deep Ellum district where he comes across an odd assortment of characters. Westwick plays Stanley Roberson, a ruthless and shady figure whom Sebastian is tasked with assassinating. The film also stars Lori Petty (“You’re All Gonna Die”) as Sebastian’s sister Elise Poe.
The film was shot earlier this year in Deep Ellum, a historical district of Dallas.
The deal was brokered by Oceana Studios CEO Danny Sawaf with producers Jason Starne and Lola Lott of Muscular Puppy.
“Tonic” recently screened at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, where it won best thriller.
Sawaf said: “We’re excited to represent this brilliant film, which is one of those rare crime thrillers that captures your imagination as Sebastian finds himself in a never-ending deluge of crises.”
Recent projects from Oceana Studios include “Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend,” starring Gabriel Byrne and Mira Sorvino, “Monstrous” starring Christina Ricci and horror hit “Terrifier 2.”
Muscular Puppy’s credits include “Boon,” “Red Stone” and “White Tail.”
