Universal Buys “Grim Night” After Trailer Goes Viral

You know your work never goes unnoticed when you have studios vying for your indie work. That’s what happen when Universal won the rights to Brandon Bestenheider and Allen Bey’s Grim Night. Basically the films is about two people who lock themselves in their homes in an effort to hide from creatures called Grims. But how exactly did a small indie trailer like this one end up in the hands of a major studio like Universal? Hit the jump to find out.

Bestendeider and Bey along with producers Bryan Bertino (The Strangers) and Adrienne Brittle took a slightly unusual (but apparently effective) approach to the sale, releasing a trailer late last week to pique industry and public interest in the movie.

Universal is taking a page from Paramount’s playbook when they marketed Paranormal Activity and judging by it’s success, the studio also wants a piece of the pie. But releasing the trailer was only a small part of their plan. The four waited for the Paranormal Activity 3 to make its predictable success last weekend in hopes that it pique Universal’s interest.

The trailer went viral thanks in part to some horror sites which then lead Universal to make a six/seven figured deal for distribution rights.