The film, currently in
post-production, tells the story of Claire (Kahli Williams) and Dean (Dean
Kirkright), a couple who have reached an impasse in their relationship who
decide to escape for a weekend away in the country, in the hope of working
things through.
Any chance of a resolution to their
problems is shattered however, after an encounter with a small group of locals
and their ringleader, Knuck (Thomas Roach) which quickly spirals into a
terrifying ordeal that will leave the couple physically and emotionally changed
forever.
Sam hopes that by taking the time to establish the relationship between his leads early, the film will appropriately explore the impact of the ordeal on the pair, and evoke a genuine emotional response from the audience.
“In developing our main characters,
then putting them in such a threatening circumstance together, we can explore
the dynamics of their relationship and how the trauma affects them collectively
in a really interesting way.”
The film is set to be released
sometime next year to what Sam describes as an ever-growing and insatiable
Australian genre audience.
“In the past horror was seen as a
bit of a cheap cinematic thrill, but more recently it has been shown that the
horror genre can facilitate really compelling and emotionally engaging
storytelling. So I think that’s why horror is connecting with wider audiences,
not just the horror crowd. There is a real demand amongst Australian audiences
for more home-grown genre fare.”
