nullIt’s been quite an active last 12 months or so for Jeff Clanagan and his CodeBlack Films, since the launch of last year’s partnership with Lionsgate (also a company that’s been on a hit streak lately).

On the heels of Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain’s surprise box office triumph last weekend, Codeblack has now picked up US distribution rights to Forest Whitaker‘s thriller Repentances (previously titled Vipaka, which I actually prefer, given that it’s more mysterious, and not as obvious and generic as Repentances). 

The southern gothic, psychological thriller stars Whitaker, Anthony Mackie, Sanaa Lathan, Nicole Ari Parker and Mike Epps.

It made its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, UT earlier this year, and was the opening night movie for the Pan African Film Festival in February. 

The film’s official synopsis reads:

An earnest life-coach/author, Thomas Carter, is mysteriously abducted by a deranged client, Angel Sanchez, who delves into Thomas’ teachings and uses his spiritual messages of Karma – action and reaction (Vipaka), against him to terrorize him and his family for their past sins.

Mackie plays Thomas, and Whitaker plays Angel. Lathan plays Mackie’s wife, who’s caught in a love triangle that includes her husband (Mackie) and Mike Epps’ character, who plays his brother.

French/Lebanese director Philippe Caland (Boxing Helena) directed the film.

We saw it at the PAFF and Slamdance, but, unfortunately really didn’t care for it. You can read our combined thoughts HERE if you haven’t.

Lionsgate will release Repentances in the first half of 2014.

The other 2 films on Codeblack’s upcoming release slate include:

1 – George Tillman Jr.’s The Inevitable Defeat Of Mister And Pete, which stars Jennifer Hudson, Skylan Brooks, Anthony Mackie, Jordin Sparks, Jeffrey Wright, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, in a drama that sees Jennifer Hudson as a drug addict mother whose arrest forces her son and his best friend to fend for themselves.

The script was penned by Michael Starrbury, and by co-produced by Alicia Keys.

Expect an early 2014 release.

Read our review of the film HERE.

2 – Charles Murray’s feature debut, Things Never Said, which stars Shanola Hampton, Omari Hardwick, Elimu Nelson, Tamala Jones, Dorian Missick and Michael Beach.

In the micro-budgeted drama/romance, a young woman struggles to realize her self-worth, purpose and potential via spoken-word poetry.

Things Never Said is produced by Omar Albertto and Brian Lewis.

Read our review of it HERE.

No dates on this one yet, but it might debut in the fall, or early next year as well.

As Variety notes, Jeff Clanagan states that CodeBlack plans to produce two to three features a year, in various genres, which is good!. “We wanted to give ourselves time to build up our infrastructure rather than rushing out titles,” he added.