Hit Indie Horror Game Mouthwashing Gets Live-Action Film From the Director of Jennifer’s Body

Mouthwashing is getting the Hollywood treatment with a full-length feature film directed by the mind behind Jennifer’s Body.

Critically acclaimed indie horror game Mouthwashing, developed by Wrong Organ and published by Critical Reflex, is coming to the silver screen. This official announcement follows more than two weeks of rumors about a movie adaptation that have swirled within the game’s fanbase.

Revealed on October 29 by Wrong Organ and Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems production company, the crew of the Tulpar will soon make their way to a theater near you. Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, The Black Phone) is set to produce, alongside C. Robert Cargill and Vince Cheng for their Crooked Highway production house.

Karyn Kusama (famous for Jennifer’s Body and Yellowjackets) is set to direct, with Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay (The Invitation) writing the script. Thus far, exact plot details are unconfirmed — but if you’re familiar with the game, you’ll have a good idea of what you’re in for.

The game follows five crew members manning the Tulpar, a freight ship under the Pony Express shipping company. When the vessel goes off course, its staff must cope with their dire circumstances, battling starvation, isolation, paranoia, and hallucinations — and even defending themselves from their fellow crewmates.

The game has been widely well-received, with IGN scoring the game a glowing 9 out of 10. First released on PC in 2024, the game is now out on consoles as of October 29. Another Critical Reflex joint, No, I’m Not a Human, alongside celebrated indie game Arctic Eggs, are also coming to Xbox, as revealed during the ID@XBOX showcase earlier this month.

Thus far, it’s anyone’s guess as to who’ll get cast in the movie — but given that some of its characters were directly inspired by real-life actors (Shelley Duvall, for one), we’re keen to see who gets picked to join the Tulpar on its doomed journey through space.

This marks the latest video game to receive approval for a screen adaptation, following news that PUBG is being developed into a live-action series on Netflix, with Donald Glover writing, directing, producing, and even starring in the project.

It appears increasingly common for video games to be adapted for the silver screen. Michael B. Jordan is directing a Battlefield film adaptation, while Capcom’s Street Fighter movie premiered in theaters earlier this month. This comes on the heels of Zach Cregger’s highly successful Resident Evil film, part of a run of horror movies that have shaken up the box office this year.

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Noticias Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she has a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.