By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Eight years after the original, an expanded reimagining is on the way.
Welcome Villain films has announced the completion of production on an untitled update of LAST SHIFT, Anthony DiBlasi’s well-received 2014 chiller. Directed once more by DiBlasi from a script he wrote with previous collaborator Scott Poiley, it stars Jessica Sula (pictured with DiBlasi), Candice Coke, Chaney Morrow, Clarke Wolfe, Morgan Lennon, Valerie Loo, Monroe Cline, Eric Olson, Sam Brooks, Kevin Wayne, Danielle Coyne, Natalie Victoria and Britt George. Sean McDaniel served as DP, with Josh and Sierra Russell of RussellFX (THE NIGHT HOUSE, THE RITUAL) handling the makeup effects. According to the official synopsis, “The film focuses on a rookie police officer [Sula] who willingly takes the last shift at a newly decommissioned police station in an attempt to uncover the mysterious connection between her father’s death and a vicious cult. Throughout the night, she finds herself barraged by terrifying supernatural events while unveiling the truth behind her family’s twisted past. This reimagining takes the premise of the 2014 festival hit and flips it on its head, thrusting viewers into a relentless, adrenaline-fueled, bloody cult nightmare.”
“The world Scott and I envisioned for this story was always meant to be a dark, twisted rollercoaster through Hell,” DiBlasi says, “and partnering with Welcome Villain allowed us to fully realize our vision without the limitations we faced with the original film. The practical effects, authentic locations, incredible cast and unwavering support from team Villain propelled this project to an entirely new level that we hope will more than satisfy existing fans and new fans alike.”
“This has been such a wild and fun project to be part of, and working with Anthony and the team has been amazing,” says Sula. “It was a rewarding challenge to take on this role and bring something new and unexpected to the character, and I think this movie will definitely give audiences a good scare!”
“This time around, the world is larger, the characters and mythology are richer, and the scares are cranked up to 11, featuring masterful effects makeup by RussellFX and stunning cinematography by Sean McDaniel,” says Eric Kleifield, Welcome Villain Head of Creative. Postproduction is targeted for completion this fall, with Welcome Villain distributing the movie in 2023.
