This is the story of an attractive film that took a long time to come together and is finally about to hit Belgian screens thanks to the persistence of Benoit Roland (Wrong Men) who, from co-producer with France, then with France and Ireland, finally took the reins of the operation to make Cosmogony a film that will be presented in September at BRIFF 2020 in the national competition…
Because yes, like The Exchange of Princesses (Scope), this feminist survival film directed by Vincent Paronnaud (well known to comic book fans as Winshluss) is now a Belgian film. It will obviously compete for the Magritte and César awards in the category ” foreign films ” since the rules are not harmonized, but who cares… That was never the objective of this film, which is aimed at a genre audience fond of suspense and thrills.
The important thing is that the film exists and that it arrives in Belgium. The world premiere took place (online, it’s fashionable) last Friday during the Fantasia Film Festival (Montreal) under the very appropriate international title, Hunted. And the least we can say is that the reception was very good.
Screen Daily wrote: ” Shot in Belgium with its location never specified, this is the English-language debut of Paronnaud, who co-directed Persopolis. There’s enough blood, twists and grindhouse weirdness here to activate the word-of-mouth, which the film will need to make its mark. Paronnaud’s topical themes could help make it a popular choice for other festivals and theatrical releases – including in the U.S., where RLJE and Shudder will handle distribution. “
The Ourculture site, meanwhile, compares it squarely to such bombs as “The Most Dangerous Game (1932), Wolf Creek (2005), I Spit on Your Grave (1978) and The Company of Wolves (1984).”
If the scenario had kept us in suspense, we are even more impatient today to discover it on the big screen, carried by two Belgian actors that we know are exceptional : Lucie Debay (Melody) and Arieh Worthalter. The screening will take place at Cinéma Galeries (Galerie de la Reine 26, 1000 Brussels) on 7 September at 6:30 pm.
Cosmognony/Hunted has been selected for the prestigious Sitges festival (Spain) and will also be presented at the Strange Festival (Paris) on September 8 . Shudder bought the film which will be released on its platforms in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Australia while in Belgium Be TV and Telenet acquired the VOD rights.
