By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Her chiller takes its cues from classic ghost stories.
Author/filmmaker Kier-La Janisse, whose credits include the SXSW award-winning folk-horror documentary WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED, the tie-in Blu-ray boxed set ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS and the acclaimed horror memoir HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN, has completed principal photography on her narrative movie debut THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM. An episode done in the tradition of the BBC’s classic GHOST STORIES FOR CHRISTMAS, it was scripted by Janisse from the Algernon Blackwood story. According to the official synopsis, it’s “about a schoolteacher whose late-night arrival at a hotel in the Alps without a reservation leaves him with no option but to accept the room of a missing hotel guest–leading to a sleepless night full of strange and uncanny occurrences.” The cast includes veteran Canadian actor Don McKellar (CRIMES OF THE FUTURE), Ben Petrie and Delphine Roussell.
THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM was shot by DP Karim Hussain, a regular collaborator with Brandon Cronenberg whose credits also include WE ARE STILL HERE and HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN. Janisse’s Spectacular Optical company produced the film along with Liane Cunje of Ruby Mannequin Films (whose ANYTHING THAT MOVES world-premieres at this month’s Fantasia International Film Festival) and Shannon Hanmer (IN A VIOLENT NATURE). David Gregory and Carl Daft of Severin Films (for whom Janisse produced ALL THE HAUNTS and the SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE boxed set) and Rob Cotterill of Yer Dead Productions are the executive producers. OCCUPANT will be ready for market sales and festival play this fall.
