Spec Script Sale: “Grim Night”

In a high-six against seven figure deal, Universal Pictures acquires horror-thriller spec “Grim Night” from first-timers Brandon Bestenheider & Allen Bey. From Deadline:

Universal Pictures just won an auction for Grim Night, a thriller about about a night that happens once a year globally, where people lock themselves at home and fend off the senseless and random attacks by Grims.

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The duo helped move things along by making a teaser trailer for the spec that was leaked by their Verve reps before the auction began. About six other outlets were interested but Universal moved fastest.

GITS readers found out about “Grim Night” and its teaser trailer here on Saturday. It’s a strong high concept and could have come straight out of the Bible: The Angel of Death on Passover night.

That makes six high-six to seven figure spec script sales since September 30.

By my count, this is the 83rd spec script to sell in 2011.

Here is the teaser trailer that went out with the spec script:

In 2010, only 55 spec scripts sold.

In 2009, only 68 spec scripts sold.

Combined with the sale of another spec script last night, sales are up 84% year-to-date over 2010. Next post: Yet another spec script sale.