Scary Dad
Emerging genre studio Welcome Villain Films has announced their latest acquisition, the Australian shocker Beaten to Death, ahead of the film’s Panic Fest premiere.
Directed by Sam Curtain and co-written by Curtain and Benjamin Jung-Clarke, Beaten to Death unfolds after a desperate choice leads a man named Jack down a path that leaves him beaten and bruised as he struggles against man, nature, and his own insanity. Stranded in the middle of nowhere after barely surviving a horrific assault, Jack encounters one local after another and quickly learns that a sick game of cat and mouse is about to begin. Battling the deranged country psychos and the harsh landscape, Jack must go to extreme lengths to survive.
“From the initial story inception, I wanted to achieve two things,” says filmmaker Sam Curtain. “I knew I wanted to create a visceral and violent experience, but I also wanted to find beauty in the frame. This is partially the reason why I decided to shoot it myself, to capture everything in the moment, in a hands-on tactile way, connecting the direction between the actor, the lens, and myself. The violent scenes are designed to shock and disturb, and I embrace the ride of emotions the audience experiences alongside Jack.”
Beaten to Death will screen at Panic Fest on Tuesday, April 18 as well as the Fantastic Film Festival Australia on April 28. Following its festival run, Welcome Villain Films will distribute the film domestically this Summer.
Thomas Roach stars in the lead role of Jack with David Tracy as the film’s main antagonist and Justan Wagner and Nicole Tudor in supporting roles.
