For my money, Lucky McKee sits right in the top tier of 21st Century horror directors. Introducing himself in fine style with 2002’s goth Frankenstein fable May, he has since gifted us with the likes of All Cheerleaders Die, lo-fi revenger Red and one of this century’s very best horror flicks, The Woman. Stepping out of the director’s chair, McKee will be producing Don’t Look There, a serial killer mystery set to begin shooting this winter.
Below is the early poster art for the film, which Richard Zelniker (As Night Comes) will direct. Zelniker also produces with McKee, Patrick Hughes (Picture This) and Warren Zide (Final Destination series). Here’s the official synopsis:
Don’t Look There is a mystery/thriller about a clinical psychologist who’s on a downward spiral as she treats a new patient that suffers from premonitions. As their sessions deepen, New Backing takes Road of the Dead Closer to Production.
The passing of George A. Romero in July still feels like a fresh wound. At the time of his death, the legendary ‘Godfather of the Dead’ was not finished with his most famous creations, and was planning to take his zombies on the road with Road of the Dead, as reported earlier this year. Romero never intended to direct the film however, with those duties going to his longtime collaborator/stunt coordinator/co-writer Matt Birman.
Birman – a second unit director on Land of the Dead as well as Diary… and Survival… – assured mourning fans that the film will definitely happen, telling Indiewire in July that “I will stop at nothing to get [Road of the Dead] made,” and adding, “for him and with him.” Following July’s Frontières co-production market at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, the film has found backing with The Witch/Pyewacket producer JoBro Productions & Film Finance and EMAfilms (Radius, Turbo Kid), with Elle Driver, Matt Manjourides and Justin Martell executive producing alongside Birman. This fresh backing means the project can now begin moving towards production.
Set six years after 2005’s Land of the Dead, Road… takes place on an island haven for rich folk, where a corrupt despot keeps control on the populace by staging drag races using tinkered-with zombies as the drivers.
Romero co-wrote the screenplay with Birman. The production will feature the work of a number of Romero collaborators, including SFX creator and FX/makeup supervisor and frequent director on The Walking Dead, Greg Nicotero.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
