The final cast of the 1978 Australian cult horror remake Patrick has been announced.
Starring Academy Award nominee Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under, Muriel’s Wedding), up-and-comer Sharni Vinson (Bait 3D) and Charles Dance, (Game of Thrones, Gosford Park) the project has commenced production at Melbourne’s Docklands Studios.
Damon Gameau (Balibo, Underbelly), Peta Sergeant (Iron Sky) and Martin Crewes (Crownies, Resident Evil) have also been cast in supporting roles. Patrick will be played by newcomer Jackson Gallagher.
Patrick is a thriller which examines the burgeoning psychic powers of a mysterious coma patient, Patrick, and his obsession with new nurse Kathy (Vinson).
Set in a remote clinic, Kathy is hired after the mysterious disappearance of the nurse before her.
Here she finds herself thrust into the formidable company of Matron Cassidy (Griffiths) and renegade neurologist Dr Sebastian Roget (Dance).
Tasked with caring for Patrick, it is not long before Kathy becomes the subject of his bloody and dangerous obsession.
Producer and film industry veteran Antony I. Ginnane has returned to oversee production, and multiple ARIA award and AFI award winning filmmaker, Mark Hartley (Not Quite Hollywood) will direct.
The original Patrick script has been overhauled by screenwriter Justin King to accommodate today’s era of high-tech surveillance and social media.
Filming will take place in several locations around Melbourne and will continue through to the end of the year.
Patrick will have its world premiere at MIFF in 2013 and will be released in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on October 17, 2013 by Umbrella Entertainment. Bankside Films acts as exclusive worldwide sales company (ex ANZ) as well as co-financier.