It’s been almost five years since Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook became one of the most lauded yet divisive horror movies of 2014. Now, we’re getting word that her hotly-anticipated follow-up, The Nightengale, is just as controversial–if not more so. Apparently, a recent screening in Sydney sent audience members fleeing.
So, what is it about The Nightingale that makes it such a difficult watch? ABC reports:
At the Sydney premiere on Sunday at the Ritz cinema in Randwick, one woman walked out during the early stages, shouting: “I’m not watching this. She’s already been raped twice.”
Kent responded to criticism by claiming her motivations are “to illuminate a part of Australian history that was seldom talked about”.
“My commitment to cinema is just to make people feel something,” she told the audience. Even if that’s anger at me or the situation.”
Synopsis:
Clare, a young Irish convict, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness and is bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence the man committed against her family. On the way, she enlists the services of Aboriginal tracker Billy, who is marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.
Look for The Nightingale to hit US theaters on August 2nd. The film stars Sam Claflin, Damon Herriman, and Aisling Franciosi.
Are you a fan of 2014’s The Babadook? Are you excited (or nervous) to see Jennifer Kent’s follow-up, The Nightingale? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.