Ben Leonberg (Good Boy) has signed on to helm an adaptation of Grady Hendrix‘s horror short story Ankle Snatcher for Sony Pictures

Leonberg and his Good Boy writing partner Alex Cannon will rewrite an earlier screenplay draft by Hendrix.

Plot details are under wraps, however, the story centers on Marcus, who grew up believing his father killed his mother — then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on or the boogeyman will get you, his father warned.

Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.

Hendrix will produce alongside Adam Goldworm for Aperture Entertainment (The Last Witch Hunter, My Friend Dahmer) and Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, & Tony Shaw for Escape Artists (The Equalizer, Masters of the Universe).

Ankle Snatcher was published in 2023 by Amazon Original Stories as part of its Creature Feature collection.

Deadline first reported on the film.