Ghost House Pictures has acquired North American rights to The Tattooist, the supernatural thriller starring Jason Behr and Mia Blake.

Sony, who has a longstanding relationship with Ghost House, will handle the North American theatrical release.

Ghost House Pictures is owned by Robert Tapert and Spiderman's Sam Raimi, who recently visited New Zealand to talk with the film's director Peter Burger and producer Robin Scholes about the final cut and to guide the final stages of post-production.

Ghost House Pictures' recent US releases include box office hits Boogeyman and The Grudge. The North American deal was negotiated with Ghost House by Kathleen Drumm and James Thompson of NZ Film.

The first market screenings of the film are at AFM this week.