By Laura Frykberg
It is ambitious enough making a World War Two film on a tight budget, let alone in an entirely different location to where the film is set.
Throw in a supernatural horror element and there is potential for disaster
But The Devil's Rock has made the seemingly impossible, possible.
The film could fool anyone into thinking it was filmed where the story's set -in the Channel Islands.
However, director Paul Campion has a country 19,000km away to thank for its authenticity.
“This is a New Zealand film. It was funded out of New Zealand, the cast and crew is all out of New Zealand, it was shot here, it's really a New Zealand film so it's fantastic to be having the premiere back in Wellington,” says Campion.
Set in 1984 the film follows a commando team sent to the Channel Islands to destroy Nazi weapons.
Once inside a German bunker events turn to other-worldly carnage and take a supernatural turn.
The Devil's Rock was written, filmed and edited in just thirteen months, but actor Matthew Sunderland is not celebrating the quick turn around with champagne.
“In this case I had a shower because there was a lot of blood.,” he says.
“Yeah there were some pretty long days on set.”
The Devil's Rock has had mixed reviews internationally, but Campion's confident there is a market for it here in New Zealand.
“They described it in the UK as a marmite film. You're either going to love it or you're going to hate it,” he says.
“I think what we found is the mainstream are probably not going to like it, they need a something a bit simpler with more action.”
But with tonight's premiere a full house, Campion is hoping even the most ‘mainstream’ of audiences will give it a go when it is released in cinemas tomorrow.
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