Genre regular Maika Monroe – whose credits include The Guest, It Follows, Tau, Villains, The Stranger, Watcher, and the upcoming Nicolas Cage horror film Longlegs – and Troy Kotsur, who won an Oscar for his performance in the Best Picture winner CODA – have signed on to star in the thriller In Cold Light, which Deadline notes will mark the English-language debut of French-Canadian director Maxime Giroux (Felix and Meira). This will also be Kotsur’s first movie since he worked on CODA.
Scripted by by Patrick Whistler, In Cold Light has the following synopsis: Ava (Monroe) is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be.
Mike MacMillan and Yanick Letourneau are producing the film, with Jean-Yves Roubin co-producing. XYZ Films is executive producing and financing with investment funding coming from IPR.VC, and with the support of Telefilm Canada and SODEC. XYZ is handling the worldwide rights and is currently presenting the project to potential distributors at the Cannes Film Festival.
In Cold Light is expected to go into production later this year. Giroux had this to say about it: “I am so excited to get this film underway. The cast and filmmaking team, most that I’ve worked with for years, is incredible. After years honing and fine-tuning, we’re to shoot this wild ride.“
MacMillan and Letourneau provided the following statement: “This film is going to be stunning and kinetic. The gritty thriller at the core of the film promises to elevate in the hands of Maxime and this excellent cast. We’re crafting something unique and with a genuine signature. We simply cannot wait to share this one with audiences.“
XYZ’s Todd Brown added: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of In Cold Light. Writer Patrick Whistler has quickly become one of our favorite screenwriters on the planet; director Maxime Giroux is the heir apparent to the filmmaking tradition that has already brought talents like Denis Villeneuve and Jean Marc Vallée to the world; the producing team’s recent credits read like a who’s who of recent Cannes and Venice phenoms; Maika Monroe is quickly developing into one of the truly iconic performers of her generation; and what’s left unsaid about Troy Kotsur coming off his very well deserved Oscar win for CODA? This team is an absolute powerhouse.“
How does In Cold Light sound to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below. All I needed to hear was “thriller starring Maika Monroe and Troy Kotsur” and I was sold.