Twilight cast member Jackson Rathbone has joined the cast of UK-based Matador Pictures and LA-based Midnight Picture Show's Clive Barker adaptation Dread, which has begun five-week principal photography in the UK.

Jere Hausfater's Essential Entertainment holds worldwide rights and will commence sales at AFM in Santa Monica next month on the story about a group of college students who conduct a fear study that runs out of control.

Anthony Diblasi is directing the latest episode to spring from Barker's Books Of Blood collection of stories. Dread also stars the UK's Shaun Evans and newcomers Hanne Steen and Laura Donnelly. The film is being produced with Cinema Three, the UK based production and financing vehicle set up by Matador Pictures and boutique finance house Regent Capital.

Midnight Picture Show's Clive Barker, Jorge Saralegui and Joe Daley are producing with Matador's Nigel Thomas and Lauri Apelian. Diblasi is also a member of Midnight Picture Show.

Essential previously handled sales on Book Of Blood.