Directed by Dan Slater, the beautifully shot and deeply disturbing genre film The Family will World Premiere at Busan International Film Festival. The film stars Nigel Bennett (Father), Benjamin Charles Watson (Caleb), Jenna Warren (Abigail), Toni Ellwand (Mother), Keana Lyn (Mary), and Yasmin MacKay (Evelyn).
The Family delves into brooding and unpredictable family ethics, redefining the notion of terror and explores psychological and physical trauma in a genre-bending sinister tale. Raised to fear what lurks beyond the borders of their farm, a young family must free themselves from the tyrannical rule of their merciless Father and Mother.
The Family was filmed during COVID and respected all the industry rules and regulations. The feeling of isolation in the movie also speaks to the pandemic and lockdowns in our recent lives. The co-writers Slater and Booth were inspired by the vulnerability of people and the ability of cults to exploit their fears and beliefs to separate them from the rest of the world. This reflection led the filmmakers to invent a cult religion from scratch.
“How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their head?” Raised to fear what lurks beyond the borders of their farm, a young family is held captive by their beliefs and the teachings of their merciless Father and Mother; lead to believe they may be the only one left on earth. When Caleb, the eldest, begins to question these teachings, Father decides to make an example of him, his punishments becoming increasingly cruel and brutal. Caleb is forced to choose between his search for truth… and his life.
“It’s hard to imagine how people are able to escape the clutches of a cult when they become that person’s entire existence. We began exploring what it would be to question your whole world with the consequences being mental and physical harm or even death,” adds director Dan Slater.
Watch the trailer for The Family.
The film is co-written by Dan Slater and Adam Booth. Produced by Adam Booth and Cristian de la Rosa. Executive Produced by Bo Ko and Carlo Liconti. Cinematography by Adam Madrzyk. Production Design by Mercedes Coyle. Edited by Sydney Cowper. Hair & Makeup Design by Raquel Dailey. Score by Dillon Baldassero. Color by Clinton Homuth – ART JAIL. Sound Mix by Dane Kelly.
“We’ve both always been fascinated by the idea of cults and people in society being indoctrinated by their beliefs, and how many times, you simply believe what you were raised to know. It’s ingrained in you from birth. Why would you question it?” says producer Adam Booth.