‘Black Water.’
A sequel to Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich’s 2007 survival horror/thriller Black Water is being pitched to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Although no cast is attached yet producer Michael Robertson is confident of the prospect of pre-sales for Black Water: Abyss, given the original film’s success and the global appetite for genre films.
Altitude Film Sales, which handled 47 Metres Down, the survival thriller which cost $US5.5 million and grossed $US62 million worldwide, is pitching the project at the EFM.
Directed by Traucki and scripted by Sarah Smith and Ian John Ridley, the film follows Eric and Jennifer, a young, adventure-loving couple who convince their friends to explore a remote cave system in the forests of northern Australia.
With a storm approaching, they abseil into the mouth of the cave which starts to flood and they are threatened by a pack of crocodiles. Long-kept secrets are revealed and the friends turn on each other in a fight for survival.
Robertson, who will produce with Traucki and Neal Kingston, tells IF the plan is to cast a US or internationally-known female lead who will help the film “cut through,” with Aussies in other roles.
“We thought we would gauge the international market place’s interest in Berlin before we go to the funding bodies. Altitude has already had a few nibbles,” he said.
Shooting is due to start in August/September, probably in Queensland as the production requires a water tank.
Inspired by the true story of a crocodile attack in the Northern Territory in 2003, the original starred Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody and Andy Rodoreda and centered on three holiday makers who get stranded on a tree in a flooded swamp after their boat is attacked by a croc.
The idea for the sequel germinated at last year’s American Film Market when Robertson met with Altitude’s Mike Runagall, who suggested the producer look at developing his creature features into franchises.
Smith and Ridley, experienced TV writers whose credits include Bite Club, Wanted and Wild Boys, wrote a spec script for Kingston. Robertson went to Traucki, who was keen to direct. Robert Slaviero is the executive producer.
Following Black Water: Abyss Robertson is keen to make a sequel to The Reef, the 2010 horror film written and directed by Traucki, which starred Damian Walshe-Howling, Gyton Grantley, Adrienne Pickering, Zoe Naylor and Kieran Darcy-Smith as tourists whose yacht capsizes in shark-infested waters.