A24-Style Gross-Out? A Gruesome ’80s Lice Outbreak Horror Movie Is on the Way

Get ready for an itchy trip back to the 1980s—Lice, a gruesome throwback horror film, is officially in development. Starring Emile Hirsch, Justin Long, and Kevin Connolly, this wild new project is crawling with retro style and skin-crawling horror. Directed by cinematographer Jonathan Bensimon in his feature debut, the movie is already generating buzz at Cannes, where it’s being shopped for international rights.

Set in a Long Island high school during the ’80s, Lice kicks off with a military-enforced lockdown after an outbreak of lice sends the school spiraling into chaos. What starts as a routine infestation quickly escalates into paranoia, madness, and pure body horror as students turn on one another and the faculty loses control. Justin Long plays the increasingly unhinged school principal trying to maintain order, while Emile Hirsch portrays a science teacher determined to uncover the source of the outbreak. Kevin Connolly pulls double duty as both producer and star, taking on the role of Detective Sikorski, a man on the outside trying to keep the bugs from spreading beyond school grounds.

The story was developed from an original concept by Connolly and is being produced under his ActionPark Productions banner. The script comes from Anthony Musella and Shaun Harris, and Connolly has been vocal about his inspiration: “I wanted to make the kind of movies that I loved as a kid. I’m a horror fan, and I wanted to make something for guys like me—fun, weird, scary, and completely unpredictable.”

Connolly also praised director Jonathan Bensimon, calling him a rare blend of creative mind and technical skill. “When you get two incredible actors who can blend comedy and drama the way Emile and Justin can, you’ve really got something special on your hands,” he added.

Tonally, Lice is being compared to a cross between The Breakfast Club and Lord of the Flies, with a lot more bugs and a lot less charm. While no release date is confirmed yet, the film’s unique blend of dark humor, body horror, and retro high school chaos is positioning it as one of the most bizarre and promising horror concepts in recent memory.

Whether you’re nostalgic for ‘80s teen horror or just like your creature features gross and unpredictable, Lice might be worth keeping an eye on—if you can resist the urge to scratch.