Peter Cornwell and actor Chandler Riggs. (Photo posted on Blumhouse Productions Facebook page.)
Australian director Peter Cornwell begins production on his second US feature film, Mercy, this week.
The horror-thriller is based on the Stephen King story Gramma and follows a single mother (Frances O’Connor) and her two boys (Chandler Riggs and Joel Courtney) who take care of their grandmother. However, their grandmother hides a secret: she is a witch. The film also stars Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story), Shirley Knight and Chris Browning.
Cornwell first came to prominence in Australia with the animated short film Ward 13 in 2003 but his US debut live-action feature, The Haunting in Connecticut, went under the radar. The horror film grossed more than $US77.5 million at the global box office but was released straight-to-DVD in Australia by Roadshow.
Mercy is being produced by Blumhouse Production (Paranormal Activity) and will be distributed by Universal Pictures in the US.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.