Mouthwashing, the psychological horror game about five crew members stranded on a doomed space freighter, is getting a feature film. Inven Global reports that Sony Pictures has picked up the film rights, with Karyn Kusama, the director of Jennifer's Body, attached to direct. 4Gamer reports that developer Wrong Organ and Screen Gems, a Sony Pictures label, announced that the adaptation is in the works.
Inven Global says the confirmations were posted on X. We couldn't check the original announcements directly, so every detail here is attributed to the outlets reporting it.
Who is making it
Inven Global says the deal was first reported by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, and that Wrong Organ confirmed it soon after. According to Inven Global, the studio wrote "The rumors are true" and added: "The Tulpar journey goes on, we hope it continues to hurt."
The creative team, as both outlets describe it:
- Director: Karyn Kusama. Inven Global lists Jennifer's Body, The Invitation and Destroyer among her films; 4Gamer points to Jennifer's Body and the thriller series Yellowjackets.
- Writers: Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, who wrote The Invitation, according to both outlets.
- Producers: Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill of Crooked Highway are among the producers, per Inven Global and 4Gamer. Inven Global, citing Deadline, says Crooked Highway has a deal with Screen Gems.
Inven Global reports that publisher CRITICAL REFLEX said the film will be produced by Screen Gems, and quotes the publisher's own post: "You thought you could escape responsibility by turning off your console?"
What hasn't been announced is just as important. Inven Global says there is no cast, no story detail and no release window yet.
What Mouthwashing is
For anyone who missed it, Inven Global describes the game as set aboard the Tulpar, a doomed space freighter whose five crew members are stranded with dwindling supplies and no hope of rescue. Players explore the ship to work out what happened. 4Gamer calls it a sci-fi psychological horror game.
It first came out on PC in 2024; 4Gamer dates the PC release to September 27, 2024. Inven Global reports that, according to CRITICAL REFLEX, it has sold more than 800,000 copies and won Best Narrative and Players' Choice at the Horror Game Awards.
Same day as the console launch
The film news landed on the day Mouthwashing left PC for the first time. 4Gamer reports that CRITICAL REFLEX and Wrong Organ released it on October 29 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One, and that it is on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC. Inven Global also reports the Xbox and Game Pass release, calling it the game's first console launch.
Riley's take: Two years from a PC indie release to a Sony film deal feels fast to me, and Mouthwashing seems like an unusual pick: a handful of people, one ship, and a story players have to piece together themselves. A film has to decide how much of that to spell out. Giving it to the director and writers of The Invitation, a thriller I'd say runs mostly on dread, looks like the right instinct.
Reporting notes