News

The Horseman won "Best International Thriller/ Horror trailer" at the 11th Annual Golden Trailer Awards in Los Angeles.

After our sold-out Sydney premiere courtesy of A Night of Horror Film Festival, The Horseman went on to sweep the major awards at the festival's closing night ceremony, winning:

Best Australian Film
Best Australian Director
Best Actor - Peter Marshall
Best Actress - Caroline Marohasy

On 15th June, The Horseman will be released in United States of America on DVD & Blu-Ray through Screen Media Films. The Blu-Ray release will feature 'extras' including 2 Audio Commentaries, Making Of, Short Film and more.

The DVD & Blu-Ray is also now available throughout the United Kingdom.

In Australia we're holding the NSW Premiere at A Night of Horror International Film Festival. Screening is 9pm Friday 16th April at Dendy Newtown with a Q&A with writer/director to follow the screening.

Also holding the Canberra/ACT Premiere at 2pm Saturday 10th April @ Arc at National Film & Sound Archive.

We've previewed the film to a bunch of publications in the lead-up to our cinema release October 30th in United Kingdom. See the response below!

“intense and provocative....a revenge thriller in the spirit of Peckinpah”
4 Stars -Trevor Johnston, Time Out

“Get Carter meets Oldboy…a bloodthirsty revenge shocker”
4 Stars -Dan Brightmore, Loaded

“Dark and harrowing, essential for fans of modern horror cinema…A brutally compelling slice of cinema.”
5 stars - www.eatmybrains.com

5 out of 5 Stars - BeenToTheMovies.com

“Astounding…the best action-thriller-horror genre flick in recent memory”
5 Stars -Steven Kiernan, Screenjabber.com

“A red raw revenge thriller”
-Rob Daniel, SkyMovies.com

“Utterly convincing…smooth, seamless debut by Steven Kastrissios…Intense, gripping and riveting throughout, you’ll find it difficult to tear your eyes from the screen.”
-PureMovies

“The most realistic revenge movie in years”
-Zone Horror

“brilliant, terrifying…an unforgettable, extreme experience”
-Whats On TV

“Dead Man's Shoes With Twice The Malice”
-Total Film

On 17th September, The Horseman will screen in Melbourne as the opening film to a season of Australian Film Noir at ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Images). Writer-Director Steven Kastrissios will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening.
In the lead up to our UK theatrical release on 30th October, The Horseman is rearing its head in various places, none the least on the front cover of The Dark Side magazine. The article features a world-first interview with star Peter Marshall and Steven Kastrissios.
We've also launched a new design of the website thanks to Melbourne based web designer Matthew McIntyre. Want to hire his talents? Find him @ www.matthewmcintyre.com.au

International screenings take place at New Zealand International Film Festival and genre powerhouse festivals Frightfest (London) and Fantasia (Montreal), where some fantastic new reviews came through.

"knocked me flat on my ass...The act of implying these cringe-and-shriek-worthy acts is a testament to the film’s power...the first film in a really long time that warrants the raw and gritty feel it’s going for...an exceptional entry in the revenge genre, filled with seat-squirming scenes and an identifiable anti-hero that never delves into self-parody or comic book character status. Between this and Greg McLean’s work, Australia seems to have made quite a mark this decade with their inspired genre films." -David Harley, BLOODY DISGUSTING

"it’s unlikely that any movie will come along this year to match the gut-wrenching intensity... While there’s more to the movie than its violence (more on that in a moment), the hand-to-hand brutality is certainly the most arresting element...he doesn’t linger to the point where the damage itself becomes the point. He also has a story to tell, and he tells it compellingly well...the transformation is riveting as portrayed by Marshall, whose plain features and thick body make him a perfect working-class antihero." -Michael Gingold, FANGORIA

"...you basically have to see this movie as soon as possible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much brazen shit-kicking and beaten-to-living-f*ckness in a single movie in my whole life...would make the likes of Steven Segal crawl under the bed and cry like a little girl."
4 1/2 out of 5 -Paul McCannibal, DREAD CENTRAL

The hometown premiere takes place at Brisbane International Film Festival. Photos from the big night can be seen on our Facebook page.

Umbrella Entertainment has acquired The Horseman for Australia and New Zealand an is eyeing early 2010 for a theatrical release.
With a host of Aussie classics in their catalogue (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Bad Boy Bubby, Stone, Razorback, Adventures of Barry McKenzie), Umbrella is the perfect choice to bring The Horseman to Australian audiences.

Kaleidoscope Entertainment have won UK distribution rights for The Horseman and are planning an Autumn theatrical release.
Los Angeles based sales company Media 8 Entertainment have acquired world rights to The Horseman and will be taking the film to the 'Marche du Film' at the 2009 Canne Film Festival for its market debut.
Media 8 is a film entertainment company engaged in the production, financing, acquisition, and worldwide licensing of theatrical feature films in a variety of genres. Media 8 produced and distributed the Academy Award-winning Monster starring Charlize Theron, action-thriller Running Scared starring Paul Walker and the critically acclaimed The Upside of Anger starring Joan Allen and Kevin Costner.

South by South West Film Festival gave American audiences their first glimpse of The Horseman. Below are some of the responses.

"a very badass REVENGE flick" -Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool News

"One of the most intense, powerful, and aggressively compelling films I've seen in quite some time...a stunning lead performance by Peter Marshall...rock-solid thriller that powers forward from frame one and never takes the easy way out." -SCOTT WIENBERG, FEARNET

"Wow...It's like JAWS, but about stabbing people." - Alex Albrecht, The Totally Rad Show

"Writer/director Steven Kastrissios creates a pulverizing experience. As the end credits began to roll, my stomach finally began to unclench and I let out a sigh of relief. I felt like the survivor of a car wreck." -PETER MARTIN, CINEMATICAL

"suspenseful, horrifying and, most importantly, involving...Throughout the whole film there's a reality to everything, from Marshall's casting to characterization to photography to action and plot, which is what really makes this feel like a lost '70s revenge flick. All of us in the room loved it and talked excitedly about it afterwards. It's a great flick that should (set) the standard for low budget thrillers." -Eric 'QUINT' Vespe, AIN'T IT COOL NEWS

The Horseman has set off further buzz for its upcoming north American premiere at the 2009 South by South West Film Festival, by being listed in two ?Must See Films? lists as published by popular film websites, EfilmCritic.com and FilmSchoolRejects.com, with other sites writing:

"This movie looks to be one of the greatest revenge movies of all time." -WeAreMovieGeeks.com

"Kastrissios might just be the first director in a long time that truly gets the revenge genre." -QuietEarth.com

"a damn good film. DAMN good." -Cinematical.com

Steven Kastrisssios discusses The Horseman in the series 'Friday On My Mind' held by IF Magazine and the Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS).

The Horseman wins Best Australian Film and Director at Melbourne Underground Film Festival.
Rebecca Dakin joins Steven Kastrissios for the final keynote address at SPAA Fringe -a conference for Australian Independent filmmakers.

Kastle Films moved offices to Sydney.

The Post Lounge completes our temp audio mix. The colour grade is completed.

The edit is almost locked and post-audio has began.

Principle Photography wraps on time and under budget after a very successful shoot.

Principle photography begins on the feature production of The Horseman.

The short film version of The Horseman wins Best Independent Drama (10-30 mins) at the 2006 Queensland New Filmmaker Awards.

A short film version of The Horseman is completed successfully. It was adapted from the feature screenplay.