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Upcoming wartime drama The Guns Of Muschu has assembled a cast of Australian talent ahead of a planned shoot in 2025.

Directed by Australia’s Matthew Holmes, the story is set in the jungles of Papua New Guinea during the Second World War and centres on a mission in which eight commandos went in but only one survived.

The cast is led by Ben Hall, known for his roles in TV miniseries Warnie and Devil’s Playground, alongside Matt Day (Sweet Country), Callan McAuliffe (The Walking Dead), Jordan Fraser-Trumble (The Legend Of Ben Hall), Gerald Lepkowski (The Death Of Stalin), Maximillian Johnson...

Epic war-time survival tale “The Guns of Muschu” has already assembled a weighty cast ahead of a production start in the first quarter of 2025.

The film is an adaptation of the non-fiction book “The Guns of Muschu,” written by Don Dennis, with an adapted screenplay by Tom Broadhurst and Jack Brislee (“Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan”). The narrative brings to life a pivotal chapter of Australian war history with gritty authenticity, recounting the high body count Operation Copper, a mission during WWII when Australian and New Zealand troops were sent into the jungles of Papua New Guinea.

The objective of the mission was to investigate the Japanese defenses on Muschu Island, capture a Japanese officer for interrogation and discover the location of two naval guns on the island that were protecting a harbor. Eight commandos were landed as part of the operation, but only one survived.

The story...

A shark attack period piece, how ’bout that? Screen Daily reports this morning that Blue Fox Entertainment is launching sales on Fear Below at the upcoming American Film Market.

Blue Fox has worldwide sales rights on the film, which comes from Bronte Pictures.

Screen Daily reports, “Matthew Holmes directs the story of a team of professional divers in 1940’s Australia hired to locate a sunken car in a river whose efforts are thwarted by a deadly bull shark hunting in the waters.

“When the divers discover they are working for ruthless criminals trying to recover their stolen gold bullion, the bank robbers prove to be as treacherous as what lurks beneath the surface.”

Hermione Corfield (Sea Fever), Will Fletcher (The Rings Of Power), Jake Ryan (Wyrmwood: Apocalypse), Clayton Watson (Matrix Revolutions), Josh McConville (Elvis), Kevin Dee (Road To Boston), Sam Parsonson (Transfusion), Jacob Nayingul (Higher Ground), and Arthur Angel (The King’s Daughter) star.

Company to show first footage in Santa Monica.

Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide sales rights on Bronte Pictures’ shark thriller Fear Below and is launching talks with buyers at the AFM next week.

Matthew Holmes directs the story of a team of professional divers in 1940’s Australia hired to locate a sunken car in a river whose efforts are thwarted by a deadly bull shark hunting in the waters.

When the divers discover they are working for ruthless criminals trying to recover their stolen gold bullion, the bank robbers prove to be as treacherous as what lurks beneath the surface.

"What makes you think we'd ever let you go?" Damn! Madman Films in Australia has unveiled their official trailer for The Cost, a riveting crime thriller from filmmaker Matthew Holmes. This premiered at the 2022 MonsterFest in Australia last year, but hasn't shown many other places yet. Intent on dispensing their own brutal form of justice, two ordinary men abduct a felon who committed a horrific crime many years before. This vigilante justice story set over 48 hours is an intense look at just how far some will go to get back at evil people. Once you watch this trailer, the title of "The Cost" will make much more sense. There definitely is a cost... This stars Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Damon Hunter, Kevin Dee, Clayton Watson, Nicole Pastor, Nadia Fragnito, and Mark Redpath. Looks like it could be disturbingly good. There's still no US release set yet, have to keep an eye out for more updates.

Stars: Nicole Pastor, Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Damon Hunter, Kevin Dee, Clayton Watson, Nadia Fragnito, Mark Redpath | Written by Matthew Holmes, Gregory Moss | Directed by Matthew Holmes

A voicemail message opens director Matthew Holmes’ film The Cost, as Stephanie (Nicole Pastor) leaves a message for her husband apologising for an argument while asking to be picked up from the station. As the recording conveys her sincerity in making up, that hope is drained due to the following sight of Stephanie’s lifeless body. The story then flashes to the present day, as David (Jordan Fraser-Trumble) and Aaron (Damon Hunter) prepare themselves for the coming weekend. Their loved ones are told the pair are going on a camping trip, although the packed items hint at more sinister plans.

A sense of foreboding is effectively set, as The Cost also shows Troy (Kevin Dee) drowning his sorrows, unaware of what is coming. Abducted and taken to a private property,...

Anders Refn’s sequel to ‘Into The Darkness’ has opened strongly in Denmark.

Australian sales outfit Odin’s Eye Entertainment has snapped up international rights to hit Danish film Out Of The Darkness, a family saga set in Denmark during World War 2.

Directed by Anders Refn, the film opened at number one in Denmark in April via Scanbox Entertainment, and has posted 110,000 admissions to date. It is the sequel to Refn’s 2020 film Into The Darkness, also handled by Odin’s Eye and released in the US by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

The new film is produced by Lene Borglum’s Space Rocket Nation...

The arrival of Hollywood superstars and government money for tentpole movies have grabbed headlines in Australia. But independent film productions are also moving ahead in post-covid Australia.

Production will start next month in Perth, Western Australia on “It Only Takes A Night,” a film that is both a romantic comedy and a female empowerment movie. A first feature for writer-director Callan Durlik, the film follows four best friends on a girl’s night out, and end up on a path none expected.

Eliza Taylor (“The 100”) takes the starring role at the top of an ensemble cast that also includes George Pullar, Sana’a Shaik (“2067,” Netflix’s upcoming “Dive Club”), Arielle Carver-o’Neill (“Ash vs Evil Dead”), Charles Grounds and Jaime Ureta and local actor Ana Ika making her feature debut. Production is by Durlik and Josh Horneman of Rookies Ambush (“The Naked Wanderer”), Megan Wynn of Wynn Media (“The Invisible Man...

Melbourne is the setting for a new psychological revenge drama from director, writer, and producer Matthew Holmes.

Filming has begun in and around the city on The Cost, a tale of vengeance that spirals out of control across a 48-hour period.

The ensemble cast includes Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Damon Hunter, and Kevin Dee, with supporting roles from Joshua Jaeger, Cait Spiker, Sotiris Tzelios, Nicole Pastor , Adam Willson, Nadia Fragnito and Mark Redpath.

Co-written by Gregory Moss, the film is a co-production between Holmes’ Two Tone Pictures and producer Russell Cunningham of Rlc Motion Picture Entertainment, who teamed up for the historical drama The Legend of Ben Hall in 2016.

Adam La Rosa of La Rosa Productions is on board as executive producer, along with Rohan Muggleton, Alexander Moss, Ross Angelo, and Joshua Little.

Holmes said the story was designed to explore “the emotional and mental consequences” of carrying out an act of...

Jessica McNamee stars in Heath Davis’ ‘Locusts’.

Far fewer directors in Australia get the chance to make their second feature, or more, than the global average.

According to a new, ground-breaking study of worldwide trends by UK analyst Stephen Follows, while 63.5 per cent of directors have one feature film credit, 36.5 per cent made a second feature.

Just 8.6 per cent directed more than five and only 0.1 per cent have more than 20 feature credits.

By comparison, Screen Australia’s most recent research found 62 per cent of directors had one credit in the five years to June 2017 and 44 of the 144 surveyed – 19 per cent – had made a second feature.

Broken down by gender, that equated to 42 male directors (22 per cent) and just two women (6 per cent). Some 8 per cent had three credits, 4 per cent had four and 7 per cent had 5-plus.

(Source: stephenfollows.com)

To be fair, Screen Australia’s research is a relatively...

Stars: Adrian Paul, Brandon Auret, Reiley McClendon, Rick Ravanello, Douglas Tait, Joe Reegan, Nic Rasenti, Andy Davoli, Matthew Holmes, Sven Ruygrok, Scott E. Miller, Kenneth Fok, Darron Meyer | Written by Jabbar Raisani, Blake Clifton | Directed by Jabbar Raisani

Jabbar Raisani, a former visual effects maestro, who here turns director – makes his feature debut with a film that mixes a myriad of stereotypes and cliches of the alien invasion genre with the modern war movie (there’s a very good reason the film is described as Independence Day meets Black Hawk Down) in a faux-documentary that sees a camera crew join an elite unit of soldiers at Outpost 37, the most hostile region of what remains of our planet, as they face one of their greatest battles against the “Heavies” alien intruders who, a decade earlier, had invaded Earth with the intention of total annihilation.

Also known as Outpost 37 and Alien Outpost,...

Callan McAuliffe, Andy McPhee, Arthur Angel and John Orcsik have joined the cast of writer-director Matthew Holmes. The Legend of Ben Hall, which started shooting on Sunday in regional Victoria. The plot follow the last six turbulent months of the life of the notorious bushranger (newcomer Jack Martin), whose gang pulled off the largest gold heist in the British Empire, and the circumstances surrounding his controversial execution by police in 1865.

Martin played the character in Holmes. Kickstarter-funded short film, footage from which is being incorporated in the feature. The cast includes Joanne Dobbin as his ex-wife Biddy, Adam Willson as Mick Coneley, who harboured Hall, Jamie Coffa and William Lee as fellow gang members, Angus Pilakui as an Aboriginal tracker, Jordan Fraser-Trumble as Inspector Davidson and Gregory Quinn as Sergeant Condell.

The La-based McAuliffe (The Great Gatsby, Robot Overlords) and McPhee (Animal Kingdom, Sons of Anarchy) are playing members of the gang.

We’re back with another trailer round-up. This time around we have fresh footage from Game of Thrones Season 5, the final trailer for the newly released Alien Outpost, and the latest teaser video for Avengers: Age of Ultron.

“Game of Thrones follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen who are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.”

Season 5 of Game of Thrones will premiere on Sunday, April 12th, but fans of the epic fantasy series can relive the last two episodes of Season 4 and watch an exclusive Season 5 trailer in IMAX theaters from January 29th – February 5th. To see the full list of participating theaters, visit:

http://www.imax.com/community/blog/game-of-thrones-in-imax-participating-theatres...

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details on Amnesiac, The Atticus Institute, and Alien Outpost, multiple trailers, premiere details for Head, and a Q&A with the founder of The Philip K. Dick Film Festival:

Amnesiac Distribution and Release Details: “Amnesiac tells the story of a man (Wes Bentley) who wakes up in bed suffering from memory loss after being in an accident, only to begin to suspect that his wife (Kate Bosworth) may not be his real wife. The web of lies and deceit deepen inside the house where he soon finds himself a prisoner.

XLrator Media has acquired North American distribution rights to the psychological thriller Amnesiac starring Kate Bosworth (Still Alice, Superman Returns) and Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games series, Interstellar). XLrator Media will release the film in Summer 2015 on its acclaimed “Macabre” genre label.

IFC Midnight has just debuted the trailer for their upcoming sci-fi thriller "Alien Outpost", starring Adrian Paul ("Highlander", "Eyeborgs"), Rick Ravanello ("The Cave", "Hart's War"), Reiley McClendon ("Pearl Harbor", "The Flyboys"), Douglas Tait ("Star Trek", "Zathura"), Joe Reegan ("The Crazies", "Jeepers Creepers 2") and Matthew Holmes ("True Blood", "Salem"). Directed by Jabbar Raisani, the visual effects supervisor on HBO's hit series "Game Of Thrones", "Alien Outpost" will hit select theaters on January 30.Alien Outpost follows two documentary cameramen embedded in an army unit in the most hostile place on earth, an outpost surrounded by the last remaining alien fighters (Heavies) of an invading attack force. The world may have forgotten about the Outposts, but the Heavies...

Wow, this movie looks amazing! It’s “Mankind’s Last Stand”! The new action-packed sci-fi flick Alien Outpost is directed by Game of Thrones‘ visual effects supervisor Jabbar Raisani, adventure and opens in select theaters on January 30th, 2015! I hope it comes to St. Louis!

Two documentary cameramen embedded in an army unit in the most hostile place on earth, an outpost surrounded by the last remaining alien fighters (Heavies) of an invading attack force. The world may have forgotten about the Outposts, but the Heavies are planning the second invasion of Earth and the soldiers are the only ones who can stop it. Alien Outpost stars Adrian Paul, Rick Ravanello, Reiley McClendon, Douglas Tait, Joe Reegan & Matthew Holmes This trailer looks incredible:

and this poster is mind-boggling!

The movie I’m most looking forward to in 2015 is Alien Outpost !

The post Check Out the New Poster and Trailer for...

IFC Midnight has just debuted the trailer for their upcoming sci-fi thriller Alien Outpost, starring Adrian Paul (“Highlander, Eyeborgs), Rick Ravanello (The Cave, Hart’s War), Reiley McClendon (Pearl Harbor, The Flyboys), Douglas Tait (Star Trek, Zathura), Joe Reegan (The Crazies, Jeepers Creepers) and Matthew Holmes (“True Blood,” “Salem”). Check it out in the player below! Directed by Jabbar Raisani, the visual…

The post Experience Future Terror with the Alien Outpost Trailer appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

In Outpost 37 (formerly Alien Outpost) a documentary crew follows an elite unit of soldiers in the wake of an alien invasion. The indie science fiction thriller directed by visual FX supervisor Jabbar Raisani who has worked behind the scenes of such shows as Game of Thrones, Predators and Machete.

Outpost 37 marks Jabbar Raisani's directorial debut.

Outpost 37 was recently picked up for distribution by IFC, so keep an eye on Qe for those release details.

The film stars Joe Reegan, Rick Ravanello and Matthew Holmes.

[Continued ...]...

Would lower ticket prices encourage more people to see Australian films in cinemas?

That question has been raised several times in the debate over the inability of. local films to connect with moviegoers. The answer is a resounding yes, according to some respondents to the latest informal survey on social media.

However exhibitors and distributors have rejected calls for variable pricing for Australian films. .If you ask people about value/price, they always say that items are too expensive, however Gold Class and other added-value offerings continue to be extremely successful,. Paramount Pictures MD Mike Selwyn tells If. .Cinema is good value entertainment considering the quality of the infrastructure in Australia..

Producer Annie Kinnane asked on Facebook, .If Australian films at the cinemas had a ticket price of $15 compared to the big American films at $19.50 would you see that as a way of supporting our Aussie film industry - or...

After providing the visual effects for films like Predators and Machete, Jabbar Raisani makes his directorial debut with the creature feature Outpost 37, which has just found itself inside the comfort of a distribution home. Read on!

Per Deadline, IFC Midnight has acquired the North American rights to the film, written by Raisani and Blake Clifton. Joe Reegan, Rick Ravanello, and Matthew Holmes star.

Outpost 37 follows a documentary crew tracking a group of elite soldiers after an alien invasion who reach the world’s most dangerous outpost only to discover that the first wave was just the beginning.

Laurie Cook, Jason Newmark, and Trevor Engelson produced for Bigscope Films. Michael Sackler, Julia Godzinskaya, and Sophie Vickers are executive producers for Rooks Nest Entertainment alongside Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, and Mike Runagall for Altitude Film Entertainment.

No release information has been announced at this time, but we'll be sure to keep you posted!

The genre arm of IFC has acquired North American rights to Outpost 37, an action sci-fi thriller starring Joe Reegan, Rick Ravanello and Matthew Holmes. Director Jabbar Raisani makes his feature helming debut after serving as a VFX pro on Predators, Machete, Fright Night, and HBO’s Game Of Thrones. Film follows a documentary crew tracking a group of elite soldiers after an alien invasion who reach the world’s most dangerous outpost only to discover that the first wave was just the beginning. Raisani and Blake Clifton wrote the pic which was produced by Laurie Cook, Jason Newmark and Trevor Engelson […]...

IFC Midnight has pounced on North American rights to Jabbar Raisani’s sci-fi thriller. Altitude Film Sales handles international sales.

Raisani co-wrote the screenplay with Blake Clifton about a documentary crew investigating an alien invasion.

Joe Reegan, Rick Ravanello and Matthew Holmes star.

Laurie Cook, Jason Newmark and Trevor Engelson produced for Bigscope Films.

Michael Sackler, Julia Godzinskaya and Sophie Vickers served as executive producers for Ravens Nest Entertainment alongside Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Mike Runagall of Altitude Film Entertainment.

Arianna Bocco and Sean Berney of Sundance Selects/IFC Films negotiated the deal with Mike Runagall of Altitude Film Sales.

In case the three clips and photos we showed you earlier today weren't enough, another sneak peek has arrived from "Salem" Episode 1.04, entitled "Survivors," which reminds us heathens that a blessing can often be a curse in disguise!

"Salem," recently renewed by Wgn America for a second season, explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth behind them.

Related Story: Visit our "Salem" Archive

The series stars Janet Montgomery as the ruthless but vulnerable Mary Sibley, Salem’s most powerful enchantress; Shane West as handsome, hardened war veteran John Alden – and Mary’s onetime love interest; Seth Gabel as local aristocrat Cotton Mather, who fans the flames of Salem’s witch hunt; Ashley Madekwe as Mary’s mysterious, carnal accomplice, Tituba; Xander Berkeley as chief politician Magistrate Hale; Tamzin Merchant as the forthright Anne Hale, an artist with a perilous attraction...

Australian film Black & White & Sex has been voted in the top three favourite films in its opening weekend at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam.

Producer John Winter (Rabbit-Proof Fence, Doing Time for Patsy Cline), in his directorial debut . a film-within-a-film about a sex worker who is determined to set the record straight about sex . secured an outstanding response from audience members for his provocative film which speaks honestly and openly about sex and sexuality.

The Upc Audience Award, which is voted by the public, saw Martin Scorsese's Hugo at number one and Les géants (translated as The Giants) at number two.

Written and directed by Winter and produced by Melissa Beauford, the Titan View-distributed film had a positive response last year when it screened at the Sydney Film Festival. In a forthright discussion between a documentary filmmaker (Matthew Holmes) and a sex worker, Angie, the different facets of...

Three Australian feature films and one short have been selected to screen at the 41st International Film Festival Rotterdam, 25 january – 5 February.

Two films, writer/director John Winter’s Black & White & Sex and writer/director Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Hail will feature in the Bright Future section of the festival which presents debut or second feature films.

Black & White & Sex stars Katherine Hicks, Anya Beyersdorf, Dina Panozzo, Saskia Burmeister and Matthew Holmes to explore sex and sexuality.

Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, Hail is the story of love and loss based on real life partners, and actors in the film, Daniel P Jones and Leanne Letch. Hail had its world premiere at Venice International Film Festival.

Selected to screen the festival’s closing night is The Hunter, produced by Vincent Sheehan and directed by Daniel Nettheim and written by Alice Addison, its the story of a mercenary (Willem Dafoe) hunting the last remaining Tasmanian Tiger.

Today's pick for the Sydney Film Festival Trailer of the Day is Black & White & Sex. Here's what the Sff Program says about the film: Australian producer John Winter (Rabbit-Proof Fence, Doing Time for Patsy Cline) makes his directorial debut with a conceptually daring work that adopts a film-within-a-film structure. Angie (played alternately by Katherine Hicks, Anya Beyersdorf, Valerie Bader, Roxane Wilson, Michelle Vergara Moore, Dina Panozzo, Saskia Burmeister and Maia Thomas) is a sex worker being interviewed by a director (Matthew Holmes) who is making a film about sex. Determined to set the record straight about love, seduction and power, Angie's interview is erotic, funny and confronting. Her intellectual striptease and no-holes-barred approach to talking about sex ultimately turns the tables, exposes...