If, like me, you grew up obsessed with creature design and messy practical effects, the arrival of any new film advertising itself as a "monster movie" is worth getting excited about. Sure, the success rate on this particular subgenre is not what one might call "astronomical" (the leading cause of DOA monster movies: uninspired designs!), but for every all-out whiff there's a homerun just waiting to be discovered. I'll take those odds all day.
And that's why I'm excited to report the following: following a successful, worldwide festival tour, Gravitas Ventures has secured the rights to release Scott Lyus's Walking Against the Rain in North America, and will release the film via home video and VOD next month.
Here's how Variety's describing the film:
"The follows the story of Blair and Tommy, two strangers who traverse an empty landscape in search of each other, relying only on their two soon-to-die battery-operated radio mics for communication. As they try to evade a new evil monster, they confront loss and grief and learn to trust humanity once again."
Walking Against the Rain will feature creature effects from award-winning FX designer Dan Martin, whose work on Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool was flat-out horrifying. The cast (which is bigger than you might expect, given the synopsis above) includes Sophia Eleni, Reece Douglas, Johnny Vivash, Francesca Louise White, Diane Spencer, and James Swanton.
Here's a very brief teaser trailer, should any of the above sound up your alley:
Says director Lyus:
“I am beyond excited to team with Gravitas Ventures to bring our little monster movie to a larger audience, following the overwhelming reaction we have received on the festival circuit.
The underlying theme of ‘Walking Against the Rain’ is an exploration into loss, grief, and how our characters are coming to terms with a new life in an empty, but at times beautiful landscape, hidden within an old-school practical effects monster movie. And I hope with this release the film will connect with a brand new audience of genre fans."
Walking Against the Rain will hit home video and VOD on May 23rd. As a lifelong and card-carrying monster nerd, I will be renting that bad boy as soon as it's available. Stay tuned for further updates on this one as they roll in, gang!
