Marina Antunes [Celluloid 07.27.12] action thriller



Put on your WTF hats because English director Ben Wheatley, best known for the twisted little dramas Down Terrace and Kill List (review), has just signed on to direct his biggest film to date and if his previous works are any indication, we're in for a wild ride.

According to Variety Wheatley's "monster action thriller" Freakshift, which he co-wrote with Amy Jump, has found a home. The movie which is "set in a world where monsters rise from the ground and terrorize citizens when night falls. The Freakshift is a band of government-organized misfits and lawbreakers who hunt and kill the creatures for civic duty, sport and money," is being produced by Rook Films, Film4 and relative newcomber Lava Bear.


Wheatley has further explained that Freakshift is "like Hill Street Blues vs. Monsters and its our first American film. It needs a budget of about $15m, so it's quite big." The only hope here is that because of a bigger budget and American influence, Wheatley won't be sacrificing any of the twisted drama and violence that has made his films so refreshingly original though I can't imagine he would sign on for any project if it meant giving up creative control.

We'll be keeping a close eye on this one but we don't have to wait too much longer for Wheatley's next film; Sightseers made its debut at Cannes and will be playing the Locarno Film Festival (and I assume a few more to be announced) prior to its UK release on November 30th.

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Lenny (9 months ago) Reply

Kill List is a great flick! I'm excited for Sightseers.