By MICHAEL GINGOLD

It’s the acclaimed filmmaker’s latest project for Severin Films.

Severin has announced its option of screen adaptation rights to David Kerekes and David Slater’s 1994 book KILLING FOR CULTURE, an examination of death, snuff and atrocity cinema that was expanded in 2016. Kier-La Janisse, author of HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN who directed Severin’s award-winning folk-horror documentary WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED among others, will helm the film version of KILLING. Her many other credits for the company include producing the massive Blu-ray boxed set THE SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE, and this new project stemmed from that one. Part of the plotline of EMANUELLE IN AMERICA (pictured above) deals with snuff films, and Janisse was working on a featurette about the subject with Kerekes as an interviewee, when she realized it could be expanded into a stand-alone feature.

“I had started doing interviews and there was just too much interesting material,” Janisse explains. “And while there is a great deal of scholarship around snuff films, all of it is greatly indebted to the work of David Kerekes, whose publishing house Headpress has released several key texts on this topic. And so the idea of a formal partnership between Headpress and Severin was hatched, and our planned featurette on snuff films for the EMANUELLE IN AMERICAN Blu-ray became the feature film adaptation of KILLING FOR CULTURE.”

“Kier-La’s passion for film across all genres remains unmatched,” says Severin CEO and co-founder David Gregory. “Her unique insight and skills will further hone and expand the sharp edges of what Severin Films brings to entertainment.” Adds Kerekes, “We are delighted to be involved with Severin Films in bringing KILLING FOR CULTURE to the screen,” says Kerekes. “Their appreciation of, and investment in cult film and fandom makes them the natural, most exciting choice for the project. The result promises to be an unflinching exploration of the ideas and themes of the book.”