Dori Media introduced its new horror-comedy series, Soul Sucker, at the first edition of MIP London 2025. The series follows a washed-up reality star who returns to her childhood home after her mother becomes the prime suspect in her lover’s bizarre death. As she investigates, she uncovers a dark family curse: anyone who falls in love with the daughters of their family meets a gruesome fate.
Bat Hen Sabag, the creator, writer, and lead actress of the series, emphasized the challenge of blending horror and comedy. ‘People love to hear “this is horror” or “this is comedy”, but I really insist this is going to be a combination of both’. Sabag also highlighted the show’s deeper themes, particularly how childhood roles shape people’s identities. ‘All of us have some kind of psychological curse we need to let go of’, she said.
Daphna Levin, co-creator and director, spoke about the show’s setting and how it reflects the story’s themes. ‘Ashkelon has a big place in my childhood’, she noted, adding that the town’s neglected beauty mirrors the show’s characters, who have ‘big potential, but something is missing’. Levin also pointed out the tragic irony of family relationships: ‘The people that hold you back from changing and growing are the people who love you the most’.
Aharon Keshales, the show’s script editor, drew parallels between Soul Sucker and other genre films that explore social issues. ‘If you can deal with three generations of toxic women ruining each other’s lives, but do it through a modern fairy tale or a horror film, that’s more interesting’, he expressed, comparing the approach to Jordan Peele’s Get Out.
Sabag also hinted at the central mystery of the series, where the protagonist begins to question whether the deaths in her family are due to murder, a serial killer, or a supernatural curse. ‘She starts to realize that her mother isn’t as crazy as she seemed’, she explained, raising the question of whether the mother could actually be a witch.
The session also featured Nadav Palti, CEO and President of Dori Media Group, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovative storytelling.
