Filmed on location in Romania, Spain, and Germany in the summer of 2015, writer/director Martin Koolhoven's Western thriller BRIMSTONE has yet to land a distribution deal in the United States, but a deal is sure to happen now that it has made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, a debut that will be quickly followed by a screening at this month's Toronto International Film Festival.
A deal seems a given just from the cast, which includes Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Kit Harington, Carice van Houten, Paul Anderson, Jack Roth, Carla Juri, and Emilia Jones. But distribution seems even more certain after watching the clips that have arrived online via The Playlist, clips that give an interesting glimpse at what appears to be a very well-made, intense, creepy film.
The story:
Liz has a quiet country life on a farm with her kind-hearted husband and children, but we immediately sense that things are too good to be true. One Sunday, a mysterious new reverend gives his inaugural sermon, and Liz fills with terror; her past has come back to haunt her. Following the service, a local woman goes into labour on the church floor. Through no fault of Liz’s, the birth goes woefully wrong. When the woman’s husband seeks revenge, the reverend comes to the rescue of Liz and her family — though he warns that punishment will soon befall her. The next day, the family’s sheep are found slaughtered, Liz is sequestered, and her daughter is kidnapped. Thus begins a nigh-biblical sequence of events involving blood, fire, and an epic years-long odyssey spanning states and territories.
Along with the clips comes a batch of images, and there are some gorgeously photographed, moody shots in this mix.
Here's hoping that BRIMSTONE will be getting distribution soon, because it's a movie I really want to see.