By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Harking back to classic British chillers, the movie will be premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight section.
Neon has announced its acquisition of ENYS MEN, the second feature from independent filmmaker Mark Jenkin, who won widespread praise for his debut feature BAIT. As on that movie, Jenkin was writer, director, cinematographer, composer and sound designer on ENYS MEN, which stars Mary Woodvine, Edward Rowe, John Woodvine (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) and Callum Mitchell. The synopsis: “Set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the British coast, a wildlife volunteer descends into a terrifying metaphysical and ecosophical journey that challenges her grip on reality and pushes her into a living nightmare.”
The PR also notes, “Shot on 16mm color negative using a 1970s clockwork Bolex camera and post sync sound, ENYS MEN evokes the feeling of discovering a reel of never before seen celluloid unspooling in a desolate, haunted movie palace. A provocative and uncompromising entry into the Horror genre, ENYS MEN sees Jenkin connect and extend the lineage of iconic chilling realism personified by Robin Hardy’s THE WICKER MAN, Nicholas Roeg’s DON’T LOOK NOW, and Sam Peckinpah’s STRAW DOGS.” A release date has yet to be determined.
