This past weekend at the San Diego Comic Con we ran into a long time friend of the site, Kristoffer Aaron Morgan, who we learned will direct a new indie horror feature entitled The Home. What makes this project so special, besides the incredible premise, is that Peter Jackson’s WETA is official tapped to provide the practical and creature effects for the film. Inside you can find the full story, along with your first little tease for the film in the form of some production art.     Click to enlarge

Weta Workshop, the five-time Academy Award-winning effects arm of Peter Jackson’s Wellington, NZ-based Weta Ltd., best known for their work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, has signed on to create practical and creature effects for director Kristoffer Aaron Morgan’s independent horror film, THE HOME.

Here’s the plot crunch: A visceral horror thriller, THE HOME unfolds after a firefighter is nearly killed during a failed rescue that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. To recuperate, he is taken to a secluded nursing home where the elderly residents appear to be suffering from delusions. But after witnessing a violent attack, he soon realizes that the screams behind the walls are caused by more than hallucinations, and the residents are being preyed upon by twisted, monstrous nightmares that lurk within the home itself.

Oscar-winning creature creator Richard Taylor and his team at Weta Workshop will handle the film’s array of practical and creature effects. “The Home is going to be an amazing film that we are thrilled to be part of.” Taylor said. “We’ve enjoyed a fantastic career creating films for a number of directors, and now it’s time to make Aaron and Eric’s film come to life.” The film will be directed by Morgan from a screenplay by Eric Vespe, the team behind the acclaimed short film, BLIND, which premiered at the 2004 South-by-Southwest Film Festival.

“I feel very strongly that practical FX is used as much as possible,” Morgan tells Bloody-Disgusting. “[It’s] the only way to go with horror. THE HOME is going to be a very dark and scary film, no camp here. I’m also looking forward to casting some very interesting actors in the roles of the residents of the home.”

HOME will be produced by Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity) and is currently being shopped to production companies for financing. Schneider of Room 101 has been in the news a lot as of late setting up multiple horror projects around town.

Weta co-founder, Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, is delighted with Weta’s participation on the film. “Our team at Weta Workshop like the idea of mentoring young filmmakers,” Jackson said. “The project is exciting to us. It’s the type of film we really like; it’s the type of films we used to make when we were younger. The gang down here are very enthusiastic about being involved in another wonderful little horror movie.”

“The Home will be a character driven, atmospheric, twisted creature flick that I’m excited to have Weta involved with,” said director Morgan. “Their history of passion and innovation in this genre is well known and we’re thrilled to be working with them on bringing the heavy element of practical horrors that this movie calls for to life.”

Morgan and Vespe are handled by manager Will Lowery at Underground Films and Scott Henderson at Paradigm.