Making a Splash with Splatter

A current trend for home-grown horror in NZ film is noted by Variety magazine. The article points to recent features Black Sheep, The Tattooist and The Ferryman as examples of the genre by first-time NZ directors. “New Zealand’s own market can’t possibly support our films so we have to find a way that the world will buy our films,” says Jonathan King, writer/director of Black Sheep and The Tattooist. “It’s a way of making something that gets noticed in the rest of the world.” Black Sheep has racked up US $4.5 million worldwide and The Tattooist has made US $500,000 in NZ. The Ferryman, directed by Chris Graham, has just been purchased for US distribution by First Look Studios.