Principal photography has just started in Belfast and Donegal on irreverent Irish comedy horror ‘Grabbers’. Directed by Jon Wright (Tormented) from an original screenplay by Kevin Lehane (Origin) the film stars Richard Coyle (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), Ruth Bradley (Flyboys) and Russell Tovey (The History Boys).
‘Grabbers’ sees a small rural Irish town set upon by giant squid-like creatures from the sea, known as ‘grabbers’. The creatures go on a killing spree in the sleepy village until it is discovered that drinking alcohol wards them off. The film’s other cast members include Bronagh Gallagher (Sherlock Holmes) and Lalor Roddy (Hunger) and the feature will shoot in Northern Ireland until the end of January 2011.
The Irish producers of the film are Samson Film’s Martina Niland (Pavee Lackeen: The Traveller Girl) and David Collins (Once) along with Eduardo Levy (Hurt) and James Martin (The City of Your Final Destination) of High Treason Productions in Los Angeles, Piers Tempest (Quills) of The Salt Company and UK commissioning producer Bear Rock Films. The film also sees director Jon Wright reunited with his ‘Tormented’ producers, Tracy Brimm and Kate Myers of Forward Films.
A Sony Pictures Home Entertainment deal for the UK and Ireland was negotiated between Dave G. Bishop, Head of Acquisitions, Northern Europe, SPHE and James Norrie of The Salt Company. Jay Cohen of The Gersh Agency is co-representing North American rights, and brokered the High Treason Productions deal.
VFX company Nvizible have also partnered on the film and visual effects supervisor for the company is Paddy Eason (The Golden Compass) whose work will be complimented by that of creature creator Shaune Harrison (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).
‘Grabbers’ is an Irish Film Board and UK Film Council presentation of a Forward Films production, in association with Samson Films and High Treason Productions with Limelight, Nvizible and The Salt Company. The film’s executive producers are David Collins, Paul Martin (Bronson), David Martin, Cyril Mégret (Maldeamores), Samantha Horley (Killing Bono), Robert Bevan (Lower City), Michael Henry (Moon), Chris Hunt (The James Bond Story), Joe MacCarthy (Ringy) and Mark Foligno (Killing Bono). The film’s budget is unavailable but funding has come from the Irish Film Board (€100,000), the UK Film Council (£450,000) and Section 481.
‘Grabbers’ producers Tracy Brimm and Kate Myers have released a joint statement describing the film, saying: “Kevin Lehane has fused the monster comedy of Tremors with the charm, characters and authenticity of ‘Waking Ned’ to create a truly original and highly entertaining story”. Samantha Horley of The Salt Company also praised the film, commenting: “For once it was a script that lived up to the pitch, Grabbers is a pile of fun with a great team behind it, it was totally irresistible.”
