Editorial Staff
Lightning Entertainment today announced that it’s buddying up with director Nick Robertson on “The Pack”, an Australian horror/thriller that’ll serve as the theatrical debut of Kojo, the leading post-production and special effects company that worked on “The Babadook” and the “Wolf Creek” flicks.
Michael Robertson (“The Reef,” “Black Water,” “Road Train”) and Kent Smith (“2:37,” “The Tree”) produce the film under their new genre label, Breakout Movies.
General Manager and Executive VP Ken Dubow states “Lightning’s production investment in THE PACK underscores the company’s commitment to the growth of our business and our ability to get involved with the right film projects at their inception.”
Producers are eying a late June 2014 start date for principle photography. The film will be shot on location outside of Adelaide, South Australia, with the support of the South Australian Film Corporation.
The move continues Lightning’s longstanding relationship with producer Michael Robertson as they previously collaborated on a number of successful titles including “The Reef” and “Road Train”.
Lightning’s sales and acquisitions consultant Richard S. Guardian introduced the project to the company at first draft script stage, continuing his long relationship with the Australian production industry. “Following the success of “The Reef”, Michael and I have been looking for an appropriate project in which to continue our relationship, and THE PACK will be the first of several commercial properties on which we will collaborate.”
“The Pack” follows hardened farmer and devoted family man Adam Wilson, who is shocked to discover that the last of his livestock have been mauled to death on his rural ranch. Making matters worse, his wife informs him that their home veterinary business is failing, making a comfortable future uncertain for their feisty teenage daughter and young son. When a determined bank representative makes a surprise visit to the ranch to threaten foreclosure on the property, Adam firmly reassures his family that they are going nowhere, and that he will fight for the place that they call home.
Adam plans a celebratory feast that night, hoping to allay everyone’s concerns about the future, but dark shadows lurk outside their isolated farmhouse. A large pack of hungry and ferocious feral dogs circle restlessly in the darkness, thirsty for blood, waiting for their chance to attack. Suddenly the power to the farmhouse is cut and the evil hounds are unleashed, triggering a bloody and desperate battle for survival. With no way to call for help, Adam must protect his family from the violent onslaught of vicious evil howling outside their door!
