Indie genre label Spooky Pictures and global studio Image Nation have begun principal photography on Sundowning, a new horror thriller written and directed by Ian McDonald (Woman of the Hour).
Shooting on Sundowning began earlier this month in Vancouver, with the cast being led by Elizabeth Dulau (“Andor”), Susanne Wuest (“Industry”, The Sound of Falling), Rukiya Bernard (“Yellowjackets”) and Robbie G.K. (“Heated Rivalry”).
Sundowning is produced by Steven Schneider (The Long Walk, Strange Darling, Late Night with the Devil), Roy Lee (Weapons, Barbarian, It)and Simmy Wolf (Thunderbolts*) for Spooky Pictures. Producing for Hadron Films (Breeder, Still/Born, Z)is Chris Wilkinson and Ryan Marchant, with Ellie Cameron-Smith as Line Producer. Spooky Pictures’ Rami Yasin (Hokum) and Image Nation’s Ben Ross (Watcher, Late Night with the Devil) serve as Executive Producers.
After neglecting her dying parents, a young musician with gerontophobia accepts a position at a secluded end of life facility in search of redemption. However, what begins as an act of penance soon unsettles her as she discovers the idyllic sanctuary hides a terrifying secret.
Spooky Pictures’ Co-Founder Steven Schneider said: “Ian brings a remarkable track record in crafting character driven thrillers which tackle social and institutional structures in a haunting yet insightful way. We can’t wait to see his latest creation Sundowning realized and to have such a stellar cast, including Elizabeth, Susanne, Rukiya and Robbie, bring this chilling story of redemption and the darker realities of the care system to life for global audiences.”
Image Nation’s CEO Ben Ross added: “As we continue deepening our slate of boundary-pushing, elevated projects, Sundowning is exactly the type of bold and globally resonant storytelling we’re drawn to. It offers a fresh take on an emotionally driven horror, through its sinister plot that is carefully layered with explorations of guilt, mortality and loss – all brought to life by Ian’s sharp creative voice.”
Filmmaker Ian McDonald recently wrote and executive produced the feature Woman of the Hour, directed by and starring Anna Kendrick. AGC Studios financed the film with Vertigo Entertainment and Boulderlight Films producing. The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and sold to Netflix in a bidding war. Netflix released the film in October 2024 to great reviews and audience engagement. Currently, Ian is also writing an Untitled Cult Thriller for Netflix and producers Andrea Berloff and John Gatins.
Elizabeth Dulau is best known for her starring role as Kleya in Tony Gilroy’s, Emmy nominated “Andor” for Disney+. Her other screen credits include Steven Knight’s “House of Guinness” on Netflix; “All the Light We Cannot See” for director Shawn Levy and Netflix, and Universal Pictures’ film version of the hit musical Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Susanne Wuest gained international recognition with Antares, Austria’s Academy Awards submission. She is best known for the critically acclaimed cult movie Goodnight Mommy, which was also an Academy Awards entry from Austria. Most recently, she starred in the Cannes winning The Sound of Falling (Mubi) and HBO’s “Industry”. She can next be seen in Lionsgate’s Orphan 3.
Rukiya Bernard is a leading actress best known for her three seasons on Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” and her two seasons on Fox’s “Chicken Sisters”. She is next being seen bringing her signature wry, comedic wit to the hit AMC series, “The Audacity”.
Robbie G.K. is known for roles in “Heated Rivalry” and “Utopia Falls”, where he’s built a reputation for grounded, character-driven performances. With a growing presence across film and television, he continues to emerge as a versatile talent on the rise.
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