Fouresome films

Okay, I know most of my readers are international, but 2011 is set to be a reel big year for local films (boom-tish). There are three blockbusters set for release this year were, filmed in my hood the Gold Coast, as well as one locally produced independent film which has been getting attention in the underground circles. So I figured I'd give you a quick run down on each.

Sanctum

Directed by local filmmaker Alister Grierson, Sanctum is the first fictional 3D underwater film and tells the story of a group of explorers trapped in an underwater cave system after a freak storm collapses the entrance. Filmed at Warner Roadshow Studios, the $30 million adventure film had legend James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar, Aliens) at the helm as executive producer and utilised his groundbreaking 3D camera technology. Starring Rhys Wakefield, Richard Roxburgh and Ioan Gruffudd, this is arguably the film the Australian film industry are pinning their hopes on to crack the US market. Sanctum is out now.

Singularity Still currently filming on the coast, Singularity is an epic romantic drama and time travel film starring Josh Hartnett, former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, Chris Egan and now Neve Campell, according to American film industry sources. It's set on the Great Barrier Reef in 2020 and also in 18th century colonial India. While director Roland Joffaacé is best known for his Oscar-winning films The Killing Fields and The Mission in the eighties, Singularity is an attempt to return to former glory after the critical misfire Captivity. Filming moves to India this year and Singularity will be released internationally late 2011.

Bad Behaviour

Filmed soley on the Gold Coast early last year, Bad Behaviour is a crime thriller in a similar vein to the work of Quentin Tarantino. Directed by young local filmmaker Joseph Sims, the film swept the Melbourne Underground Film Festival winning a total of six major awards including best screenplay, runner-up best film and best director. After a sold out screening at the Gold Coast Film Festival in November, Bad Behaviour might be the David on this list of Goliath's, but that doesn't mean it can't impress despite a limited release. It stars Aussie favourite John Jarratt. Bad Behaviour is due out locally mid-year.

Bait

As far as `out there' concepts go, Bait takes the cake; a freak tsunami traps shoppers at a coastal Australian supermarket inside the building along with a pack of tiger sharks. Sure, it sounds ridiculous, but you can't deny it sounds like ridiculous fun and in 3D to boot. Also filmed at Warner Roadshow Studios, it stars a cast of Aussie actors making waves overseas including Julian McMahon, Sharni Vinson, Xavier Samuel, Phoebe Tonkin and Lincoln Lewis. Australian filmmaker Kimble Rendall, who's best known for his assistant director credits on The Matrix films and Casanova, steps up to the director's chair along with Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction). Bait is out September.

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30 Days of Fright!

In your face sceptics! To all those people out there who said a sequel couldn’t be done, I mock you with my laughter. Mwahahahaha. Horror movie website BloodyDisguting.com received confirmation from Mandate Pictures yesterday that they’re currently working on a sequel to 30 Days of Night. For those of you unfamiliar with this film 30 Days of Night was one of my favourite horror movies of 2007 and starred Melissa George and Josh Hartnett. Shot mostly in New Zealand by British director David Slade (of Hard Candy brilliance) it made a considerable profit given its small budget and debuted at number 1 at the US Box Office. Altogether it made $40 million in America based on ticket sales alone. Adapted from the first in a series of graphic novels by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night depicts an Alaskan towns struggle to survive its annual 30 days of darkness when its attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires. The sequel is to follow the order of the graphic novels and will centre around Stella’s journey to get revenge on the vampires who destroyed the love of her life. No word yet as to whether Melissa Geogre will be back to reprise her role but the incredible Ben Foster is returning as `The Stranger’ so hopefully that might encourage a few of the other cast members. Stay tuned for more updates.

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