Less than a week ago, I shared the news that Julius Avery would be directing the J.J. Abrams-produced OVERLORD, about paratroopers encountering supernatural forces while fighting in World War II. As I said at the time, the mixture of World War II and horror is something that has been done several times over, and today we have another example of it being done – Eric Bress, co-writer/director of THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, is crafting a World War II horror story called GHOSTS OF WAR.
GHOSTS OF WAR is being produced and financed by D. Todd Shepherd, Joe Simpson, and Shelley Madison of Miscellaneous Entertainment, with Adrian Jayasinha serving as executive producer. The project will be presented to potential buyers at the European Film Market over the next couple weeks.
With production set to begin in March, the film will tell the story of
five battle-hardened American soldiers assigned to hold a French chateau near the end of World War II. Formerly occupied by the Nazi high command, this respite quickly descends into madness when they encounter a supernatural enemy far more terrifying than anything seen on the battlefield.
Brenton Thwaites has signed on to play Chris Goodson, the soldier in command, "a brilliant strategist who is plagued by battle fatigue".
As with the supernatural force in OVERLORD, the true nature of the "supernatural enemy" in GHOSTS OF WAR is being kept a secret. My interest in these films will depend a lot on what sort of horrors they pit their heroes up against.
Bress's previous writing credits also include FINAL DESTINATION 2 and THE FINAL DESTINATION. A World War II era FINAL DESTINATION movie, now that's something I would like to see for sure.
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT's Amy Smart