‘Expanse’ Star Frankie Adams Leads New Zealand Horror ‘Mother Knows Best’
Horror thriller Mother Knows Best has recently wrapped production in Auckland, New Zealand, with Frankie Adams (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, The Wrecking Crew, Expanse) leading the cast, reports Variety.
Mother Knows Best follows Talia (Adams), who, after surviving a near-fatal encounter in the Pacific, gives birth to a premature daughter whose existence appears tied to an ancient prophecy.
“Talia travels to the remote New Zealand estate of her partner’s powerful and secretive family, but what begins as an uneasy Christmas reunion quickly reveals itself to be something far more disturbing. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a terrifying connection between her daughter, a forgotten Pacific mythology, and a sinister order that will stop at nothing to reclaim what they believe belongs to them. She must fight to protect her child before the family closes in and the truth behind the prophecy is finally revealed.”
Rhona Mitra (The Last Ship, Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans) and Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider, Game Of Thrones) also star.
From director Kiel McNaughton (The Legend of Baron To’a) based on a screenplay by John Argall, the film was produced by Kerry Warkia (Waru, Vai). Essential Film Group has now boarded international sales ahead of Cannes.
The ensemble cast also features a strong lineup of Māori and Pacific actors:
• Jayden Daniels (Evil Dead Rise)
• Ariāna Osborne (Mārama)
• James Rolleston (Boy, Uproar)
• Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (Predator: Badlands)
• Vinnie Bennett (Fast & Furious 9)
• Kawakawa Fox-Reo (Primitive War)
• Eve Palmer (Good Grief, Animal Control)
“Mother Knows Best aims to push the boundaries of New Zealand genre filmmaking,” said McNaughton. “It sits at the intersection of psychological horror and cultural myth, and it’s being brought to life by an extraordinary cast. Frankie Adams anchors the film with a powerful performance, and an incredible group of Māori and Pacific actors makes this project very special.”
The film is supported with production funding from the New Zealand Film Commission. Distribution in Australia and New Zealand will be handled by Umbrella Entertainment. Essential Film Group also provided finance, while additional support was provided by Pacific Islanders in Communications.
Categorized:Indie