UK distributor and producer Redbus Pictures has acquired UK rights to low budget shark thriller Open Water , which premiered at Sundance last week.

Redbus bought the picture from Lions Gate Films and plans to release it on 300 plus prints in the late summer or early autumn later this year.

Based on the true story of two married scuba divers left behind by a careless boat crew, the film focuses on the shark-infested journey that followed, as the drifting couple face their most primitive fears as they fiercely struggle to survive.

Rebus co-chief Zygi Kamasa billed the film as Blair Witch meets Jaws , and said he thought it would play to a wider and older audience than a traditional slasher horror film.

 "We're delighted to be working with Lions Gate again," added Kamasa. Redbus previously acquired the low budget horror Cabin Fever from Lions Gate, and generated huge returns from the film taking £1,050,000 ($1,700,000) in its first three days on 277 screens.

Redbus Pictures has been stepping up its commitment to horror films ever since the success of Cabin Fever .

It is a co-producer on The 9th Passenger with Lakeshore Entertainment. Budgeted at $10m, The 9th Passenger is to be directed by Ellory Elkayam (Eight Legged Freaks). Written by Paul Staheli, it tells the story of eight students who are stranded on a yacht with a mysterious 9th passenger who may or may not exist.

It is also involved in another horror co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment called Madhouse , which completed shooting in July last year in Romania.