Oscilloscope Lands North American Rights to ‘Game,’ Rave Thriller From John Minton and Portishead’s Geoff Barrow Starring Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods (EXCLUSIVE)

Oscilloscope Laboratories has secured North American distribution rights to "Game," a thriller set within rave culture that serves as the feature directorial debut of visual artist John Minton. Produced under Invada Films—the banner founded by Portishead's Geoff Barrow—the film is slated for a theatrical rollout in winter 2027. For Oscilloscope, founded in 2008 by Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch, the acquisition continues a tradition of backing distinctive independent voices; the company's past releases include Lynne Ramsay's "We Need to Talk About Kevin," Kelly Reichardt's "Meek's Cutoff," and Ciro Guerra's "Embrace of the Serpent."

Headlining the cast are Jason Williamson, frontman of the Nottingham post-punk duo Sleaford Mods, and Marc Bessant, with both actors stepping into lead film roles for the first time. Rob Williams wrote the screenplay, building on an original story by Barrow and Bessant that was developed alongside Minton and Williams. The narrative unfolds against Britain's 1993 rave scene: David (Bessant), an aging raver, flees with stolen money and narcotics before crashing his car in a remote forest. Injured and cut off from help, he encounters a cryptic poacher (Williamson) whose motives are anything but benevolent. Sleaford Mods, formed in 2007, became known for stark, confrontational post-punk backing Williamson's spoken-word critiques of austerity Britain—a background that lends his casting an appropriately unvarnished edge. As one veteran music supervisor observed, "Williamson's voice carries the texture of the era itself; he doesn't perform it, he embodies it," an assessment that underscores why the pairing of performer and material feels unusually organic.

The creative alliance between Minton and Barrow dates back years, spanning music videos and live visuals for Portishead. Minton's portfolio also includes collaborations with Simple Minds, Oasis' Live '25 tour, Noel Gallagher, and the Pretenders, plus music videos for Beth Gibbons, Sleaford Mods, and Gazelle Twin. In a statement, Minton described the project as "an ambition between friends and colleagues, pooling our skills and experience to challenge ourselves to make a feature." He noted that his career has centered on visuals for music and live performance, grounded in directing and editing. "Interpreting world-renowned artists, their personalities and the essence of their music visually has been my thing," he said. "Making 'Game' felt like a natural evolution of that process into long-form narrative." Recalling that he created Invada Records' first music videos over two decades ago, he called directing Invada Films' debut feature a full-circle moment. "If we'd known at the beginning of the process that 'Game' would eventually be acquired by Oscilloscope for North America, we would've been elated. To see it find a home with such a kindred spirit is bloody exciting."

Deborah Rawlings and Barrow share producing credits. Barrow's composing work for film and television includes "Civil War," "Ex Machina," and "Black Mirror," while his Invada Records label has released scores for "Stranger Things," "Drive," and "Red Dead Redemption." Williams, meanwhile, has multiple projects in development with Imaginarium Corestar, Anton Entertainment, and Rebellion Studios, and his comic series "Unfollow" is being adapted for HBO by Margot Robbie's Lucky Chap. The convergence of these resumes—Barrow's scoring pedigree, Williams' expanding slate, and Minton's visual expertise—positions "Game" as a project with established talent at every level, even as it introduces two first-time leads. Oscilloscope's involvement adds another singular independent work to its lineup, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to bold, artist-driven cinema.