A horror game that has attracted nearly one billion views on TikTok is getting a feature film adaptation at Sony Pictures. Mouthwashing, the psychological horror game developed by Stockholm-based independent studio Wrong Organ, is officially heading into development, with Karyn Kusama attached to direct. The project brings together an experienced horror filmmaking team, including screenwriters Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, who are reuniting with Kusama, and producers Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill and Vince Cheng under their Crooked Highway banner. Sony’s acquisition comes at a significant moment for the game, which has sold nearly one million copies on PC and is now available across major gaming consoles.
The announcement builds on the considerable success of the original game. Released in 2024, Mouthwashing has grown from an independent horror release into a widely discussed title, attracting attention from players and online content creators. Videos related to the game have generated approximately one billion views on TikTok and more than 63 million views on YouTube. Its popularity has also translated into strong sales, with the PC version approaching the one-million-unit mark. On Steam, the game holds an Overwhelmingly Positive user rating and has an 88 Metacritic score, giving the upcoming adaptation an established audience even before production begins.
The game has also received recognition for its storytelling. Mouthwashing won Best Narrative and Players’ Choice at the Horror Game Awards, while the New York Game Awards named it Best Hidden Gem. These honours are particularly notable for a title developed by a small independent studio. Rather than relying entirely on conventional horror elements, the story centres on the relationships between its characters, their individual decisions and the increasingly difficult circumstances they face. This narrative approach is also what makes the proposed film adaptation an interesting project.
Karyn Kusama’s appointment brings a filmmaker with considerable experience in the genre. She directed Jennifer’s Body and The Invitation, and earned Emmy nominations for her work on the series Yellowjackets. Her reunion with Manfredi and Hay is another notable aspect of the announcement. The writing duo previously collaborated with Kusama on The Invitation and Destroyer, making this a return to an established creative partnership. Their experience with character-focused stories could prove valuable when adapting a game whose central appeal lies in the tension between its characters.
The producing team adds another familiar name to the project. Scott Derrickson, known for directing Sinister and The Black Phone, will produce alongside C. Robert Cargill and Vince Cheng through their Crooked Highway banner. The film is being developed under Sony’s Screen Gems label, which has been moving forward with horror projects and video game adaptations. Following the success of its recent Resident Evil adaptation, directed by Zach Cregger, the studio is continuing to explore established horror properties with an existing fan base.
The announcement also coincides with an important release for the original game. On October 29, 2026, Mouthwashing arrived on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, alongside its availability through Xbox Game Pass. The expanded release gives console players an opportunity to experience the story that first built its following on PC.
The game follows five crew members aboard the space freighter Tulpar, which crashes on an asteroid and leaves them stranded far from help. As food and other supplies run out, the crew must contend with isolation, growing distrust and the consequences of what happened aboard their ship. The story gradually reveals the circumstances surrounding the crash, while the increasingly strained relationships between the crew members become central to the experience.
Sony has not yet announced the film’s cast, production schedule or release date. However, the adaptation already has an experienced team in place, with Kusama directing, Manfredi and Hay writing, and Derrickson joining the producing team. The challenge will be translating a game known for its unusual storytelling and carefully developed characters into a film without losing the elements that made it memorable. The story of the Tulpar is now set to reach an audience beyond the gaming world.
