Rosamund Pike is stepping into the disturbing world of social media fame and parental ambition with her next project, Feed, an upcoming body horror film that will explore the darker side of motherhood, online influence and the obsession with internet stardom. The film is set to launch sales next week at the American Film Market.
The Oscar-nominated actress, known for her performances in Gone Girl and I Care a Lot, will star in and produce the film, which will be directed by Leslye Headland, whose previous credits include The Acolyte, Russian Doll and Sleeping with Other People. The screenplay comes from Daniella Isaacs, known for People Who Knew Me, and draws inspiration from the 2022 Finnish horror film Hatching.
Described as a twisted mother-daughter story exploring parental ambition, the illusion of protection and the blurred line between predator and prey, Feed follows Erin (Pike), a desperate mother determined to turn her tween gymnast daughter into a social media sensation.
When Erin discovers an obscure collagen supplement promising to boost her daughter’s chances of becoming a successful influencer, she sees it as an opportunity to secure the fame and recognition they both desire. Their success arrives almost overnight, but as her daughter gains online popularity, something far more sinister begins to unfold. Her rise to internet stardom is accompanied by a horrifying physical transformation.
Pike says the film will take an unconventional and provocative look at society’s obsession with social media, beauty standards, self-improvement and the pursuit of fame.
In a statement, the actress explained that she has long wanted to explore the increasingly troubling relationship between online validation and modern motherhood. She described Erin as a mother determined to dominate the digital space through her daughter, believing that internet success will somehow protect her child from the cruelty and unpredictability of the outside world.
The film also examines the different forms of appetite driving its characters, from the hunger for fame and beauty to the influence of online communities and the commercial exploitation of youth. At its heart is the complicated relationship between a mother desperate for her daughter’s success and a teenage girl seeking independence, empowerment and control.
Pike added that Feed will combine genre filmmaking with contemporary anxieties surrounding the digital world, particularly the pressures faced by young girls growing up in an increasingly image-conscious society.
Director Leslye Headland also expressed enthusiasm about bringing the project to life, praising Isaacs’ screenplay as both audacious and deeply human. She described Pike as one of the most fearless performers working today and said she was excited to collaborate with both women on a story that explores some of the darker aspects of the human experience.
With its unsettling premise and sharp focus on influencer culture, Feed looks set to deliver a disturbing take on the pressures of social media fame, toxic parental ambition and the price of chasing online success.
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