Choke

Choke is a 2008 American black comedy film written and directed by Clark Gregg, based on the 2001 novel by Chuck Palahniuk. It stars Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston, with Kelly Macdonald, Brad William Henke, and Jonah Bobo. It tells the story of a man who works in a colonial theme park, attends sexual addiction recovery meetings, and intentionally chokes on food in upscale restaurants so his "rescuers" give him money out of sympathy and thus cover his mother's Alzheimer's disease hospital bills. Production took place in New Jersey in 2007. Choke premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was purchased by Fox Searchlight Pictures for distribution. It was released in select theaters in the United States on September 26, 2008, and on DVD on February 17, 2009.