Psychological Horror Saccharine Filmed in Victoria

(Updated December 19, 2025)

Women led the way on both sides of the camera on Saccharine, the third feature film by Victorian filmmaker Natalie Erika James (Relic, Apartment 7A) that has landed a coveted slot at Sundance Film Festival in January 2026.

James shared her excitement: “Absolutely thrillllled to bring this unhinged story to your eyeballs in the Midnight section.”

Delivering a boost for the local screen industry, Saccharine created 250 jobs for Victorian crew, local cast and extras, including four skills development opportunities, in addition to injecting over $8 million into the Victorian economy.

The production filmed across Melbourne, including at Docklands Studios Melbourne and La Trobe universities, Brunswick and Beaumaris. Post-production also took place in Victoria.

Saccharine marked the solo writing debut for writer-director Natalie Erika James, who has established herself as a distinctive new voice following breakout horror hit Relic and the recently released Apartment 7A.

Saccharine follows Hana, a lovelorn medical student who becomes terrorised by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes.

Midori Francis (Grey’s Anatomy, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Daytime Emmy Award nominee for Dash & Lily) stars as Hana. Danielle Macdonald (The Tourist, Patti Cake$, Dumplin’) plays Josie, Hana’s best friend and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time, Strife, Tidelands) plays Alanya, a personal trainer and fitness influencer.

Saccharine was written and directed by Natalie Erika James and produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Carver Films (Run Rabbit Run, Relic, Snowtown) with the support of VicScreen.