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The Australian Brothers Behind Zombie Horror ‘Wyrmwood’ Talk Success, Sequels And Their “Mental Ghost Story”

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Article by Maria Lewis @MovieMazz

It’s the gory, blood-drenched and bad-ass zombie horror film from the Outback that is taking the world by storm.

And no one is more surprised than the Australian brothers who made it, Kiah and Tristan Roach-Turner

Since it’s Friday the 13 release, Wyrmwood has become one of the most pirated movies in the world sitting alongside American Sniper, The Imitation Game and, ergh, 50 Shades Of Grey.

It’s also done something few horror films manage to do: win over mainstream critics.

Currently sitting at a 76% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, everyone from Variety and Entertainment Weekly to the New York Post and Hollywood Reporter have been singing Wyrmwood’s praises.

For the Roach-Turner brothers, it has come as a welcome surprise.

“It has completely exceeded expectations,” Tristan said.

“We haven’t had anyone really stick their nose up at us – it’s all been positive.

“Horror films don’t usually get a cinematic release in Australia – it’s like there’s some embarrassment.

“Even something like The Babadook, which scared the shit out of me and was one of the best horror films of the past decade, barely got a release here.

“We should just embrace it as Aussies. We live in a country across the other side of the world so we’re supposed to be a little backwards.”

Tristan points to New Zealand as an inspiration for he and his brother, with classic cult genre films like and newer entries like Housebound and What We Do In The Shadows breaking ground.

“We love New Zealand films and grew up on movies like Bad Taste and Braindead, which were really important to us,” he said.

“We’d love Peter Jackson to see Wyrmwood just for that reason.”

Any fears of cultural cringe just about evaporated after sell out sessions across Australia on their one-night only release – resulting in an extended theatrical run – and an “awesome” reception on the international market.

“The film was picked up for the Austin Fantastic Fest and it played at Stiges in Spain, which was amazing,” said Tristan.

“We were after the midnight slot and were thinking who the hell is going to come along to watch our zombie movie at 4am in the morning.

“We thought no one would come out for it, but 1600 people poured into the cinema and we were blown away.”

So what’s next for the brothers, now that Wyrmwood has scored a coveted distribution deal in the US and made nearly $100,000 on a single night in Australia?

A sequel seems obvious and they say they’ve already got a story thought out.

“Down the track we would love to make Wyrmwood 2 or play it out over a television series,” said Tristan.

“But right now we’re a bit sick of it: we need a break from Wyrmwood.”

That break is coming in the form of what they hope will be their next feature: a “mental ghost story”.

“We’re 37 pages into the next script which is a ghost film,” he said.

“It’s like an R-Rated Ghostbusters with big guns and big action.

“Oh, and with lashings of H.P. Lovecraft.”

8_THE_DOCTORS_LAB

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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‘Late Night With the Devil’ – Exclusive Clip Begins the Supernatural Horror on Halloween 1977

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The upcoming Late Night With the Devil is one of the most buzzed about horror movies of the year, currently 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and earning rave reviews from both Stephen King and Kevin Smith. King raves that the film is “absolutely brilliant,” adding that he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Smith comments, “I love it. It’s Rosemary’s Baby meets Network.”

David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad) stars as the host of a late-night talk show that descends into a nightmare in the Ghostwatch and WNUF Halloween Special-inspired film.

IFC Films & Shudder will release the hotly anticipated Late Night with the Devil theatrically on March 22 before it heads to Shudder exclusively on April 19, 2024.

Begin the horror with a brand new EXCLUSIVE clip below…

David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, the charismatic host of “Night Owls,” and the film traces the ill-fated taping of a live Halloween special in 1977 plagued by a demonic presence.

The energetic and innovative feature hails from Australian writing-directing team Colin and Cameron Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign). 

The film premiered last year at SXSW. Meagan wrote in her review out of the fest, “Late Night with the Devil captures the chaotic energy of a late night show, embracing the irreverent comedy and stress of live television with a pastiche style. It’s a clever trojan horse for a surprising horror movie that goes full throttle on unhinged demonic mayhem.

“The ingenuity, the painstaking period recreation, a riveting performance by Dastmalchian, and a showstopper of a finale make for one Halloween event you won’t want to miss.”

Spooky Pictures founders Roy Lee (It, The Grudge, The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Pet Sematary, Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Derek Dauchy (“Al Kameen”) and Future Pictures’ Mat Govoni (“Lone Wolf”) and Adam White (“Lone Wolf”) and John Molloy are all producing.

Joel Anderson (Lake Mungo), Rami Yasin, and David Dastmalchian executive produce.

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