There’s a seriously intriguing new flick brewing called Rapture, and it’s got a killer cast and a seriously creepy setup. Will Poulter (Death of a Unicorn), Kit Connor (Heartstopper), and the oh-so-talented Manu Ríos (Elite) are all locked in to lead this buzzy horror project. The folks at HanWay Films are so hyped that they’re launching it at the upcoming Cannes market.
A Gripping Premise
The premise? Rapture is set in Medieval England, way back in the plague-ridden year of 1348. The story drops us right into Lansley Abbey, a remote, stone monastery in Yorkshire. Ten monks live their strict, devoted lives, all peaceful routine and prayer. But BAM! Their quiet world gets rocked by the arrival of a messenger. This guy has got some horrible news from the outside world. It doesn’t take long for him to start showing some seriously nasty symptoms of a mystery illness. Turns out, a contagious plague is tearing through the land. First, it’s this ugly hemorrhagic fever, but then things go full-on zombie with its victims turning into “revenants” – restless, undead beings.
As this terrifying contagion creeps closer and closer, Lansley Abbey becomes a total battleground. Desperate people from outside are begging for sanctuary, while the infected are trying to smash their way in. The monks? This massive moral divide completely tears them apart. You’ve got the ones who believe they gotta help the sick, no matter what. Then you’ve got the others who are all about protecting the centuries of knowledge locked away in the monastery. This triggers seriously ruthless betrayals. It all boils down to this massive question: What does it even mean to be human when facing something this messed up?
A Debut Feature
This film is a big deal because it’s the debut feature for this playwright and director, Jordan Tannahill. Filming is set to kick off later this year in Hungary. And the producers? We’re talking some serious heavy hitters: the folks behind Past Lives and The Brutalist. Plus, the director of photography from the super atmospheric Lamb is also on board. It looks like this thing has some serious talent behind it.
And get this – Poulter and Connor are teaming up again after starring in Alex Garland’s Warfare! And Ríos? He was in Pedro Almodovar’s Strange Way Of Life. This cast is already looking top-notch.
Gabrielle Stewart, the CEO of HanWay Films, is stoked about this project. “We have all been blown away by the vision Jordan has for ‘Rapture’,” she said. “It is rare to have such an atmospheric and terrifying zombie horror film that inhabits such an authentic historical world, with complex characters grappling with the biggest moral dilemmas. It is no wonder he has already attracted such great casting in Will, Kit and Manu with more to come, backed by top tier producers.”
Tannahill’s no stranger to intense storytelling, with plays like “Late Company” and “Botticelli in the Fire” under his belt. His novel “The Listeners” was even shortlisted for the Giller Prize and became a BBC series this year. So yeah, Rapture sounds like it’s gonna be a seriously unique and thought-provoking horror flick. Medieval zombies with a moral twist? Sign me up!
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