Production is under way in Lauriston on The Cost, a psychological revenge drama from director/writer/producer Matthew Holmes (The Legend of Ben Hall, Twin Rivers) and South Australian co-writer Gregory Moss.
Set over an intense 48-hour period, The Cost is a harrowing tale of vengeance that spirals desperately out of control.
“While revenge is a common theme in movies, it’s mostly presented as a positive thing,” Holmes said.
“When the hero violently dispenses with the villain we clap and cheer with satisfaction.
“I wanted to make a cinematic experience that goes in the opposite direction – one that explores the emotional and mental consequences of carrying out a brutal act of vengeance in the name of justice.”
Holmes said the independently-produced film was being partially filmed on the property of locals Bruce Gleeson and Evanne Cheeson, who run Silver Brumby Trails at Spring Hill.
“Bruce and Evanne also worked on my previous film The Legend of Ben Hall in 2016 as horse wranglers, and that film was also shot in the same district,” he said.
The ensemble cast of The Cost includes Jordan Fraser-Trumble (The Legend of Ben Hall, West of Sunshine), Damon Hunter (The Party Bus, Neighbours) and Kevin Dee (Underbelly), with supporting roles from Joshua Jaeger (Twin Rivers), Cait Spiker (Romper Stomper 2018), Sotiris Tzelios (Sweet Country), Nicole Pastor (Water Horse), Adam Willson (The Legend of Ben Hall), Nadia Fragnito (The Artifice) and Mark Redpath (Quanta).
The Cost is a co-production between Holmes’ Two Tone Pictures and producer Russell Cunningham of RLC Motion Picture Entertainment, who teamed up for the multi-award winning Australian historical drama The Legend of Ben Hall in 2016.
Adam La Rosa of La Rosa Productions (Rage) is on-board as executive producer, along with EPs Rohan Muggleton, Alexander Moss, Ross Angelo and Joshua Little.
The picture is being lensed by emerging cinematographer Cable Williams (The Party Bus), with a score by composer Ronnie Minder, whose work on The Legend of Ben Hall made the official shortlist for an Academy Award nomination in 2017 for Best Original Score. Also attached is costume designer Oriana Merullo (2067, Never Too Late) and production designer Lufan Chi in her feature film debut.
The Cost has an anticipated release of mid-2022.
