Andrew Mack over at Screen Anarchy broke some news last week on the production launch of dark new thriller, The Oak Room, reportedly filming in Burlington, Ontario near Toronto. The film is based on a Canadian stage play by Peter Genoway and hails from Black Fawn Films and Breakthrough Entertainment.
Genoway penned the script with director Cody Calahan, and with a cast that lists RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad), Peter Outerbridge (Suicide Squad, V-Wars) and Ari Millen (Orphan Black, I’ll Take Your Dead). The film takes place during “a raging snowstorm when a drifter returns home to the blue-collar bar located in the remote Canadian town where he was born. When he offers to settle an old debt with a grizzled bartender by telling him a story, the night’s events quickly spin into a dark tale of mistaken identities, double crosses and shocking violence.” As the rest of the synopsis elucidates: “You’re not going to believe what happened at The Oak Room…”
Black Fawn Films and Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. mark their latest collaboration following previous hits like Take Your Dead, Let Her Out, Bite and Antisocial. The original play won first place at the Toronto Fringe Festival in the prestigious New Play Contest category and was also nominated for Best Independent Production by broadway.com.
“This script is unlike anything we’ve ever done before,” says Calahan. “The Oak Room is a northern gothic thriller that revolves around the consistent balancing act between power and weakness.”
“I’m excited to be joining Breakthrough Entertainment and Black Fawn Films on this movie The Oak Room,” states Mitte. “I can’t wait to see their vision come to life for this interesting plot.”
“I’ve always wanted to make a film that was dialogue driven but, also one that could blend the genres of drama, thriller and neo-noir together,” says Calahan. “It really feels like my first film again because I feel like we have something to prove to both ourselves and the audience. This film is certainly going to be challenging for our filmmaking team but we’re confident that this story will deliver a unique and memorable experience.”
“The Oak Room is a classic thriller/mystery movie with a dash of horror. It’s The Usual Suspects meets Frailty and features a stellar cast,” says Breakthrough Entertainment Inc.’s Ira Levy. “Breakthrough Entertainment is proud to partner again with Black Fawn’s brilliant filmmakers, Cody Calahan and Chad Archibald. This is our 10th film together and it promises to be the best one yet!”
Also starring are Martin Roach (The Shape of Water, Diary of the Dead, The Expanse), David Ferry (The Boondock Saints, Legion, Hell on Wheels), Nicholas Campbell (Black Mirror, Antiviral, Da Vinci’s Inquest) and Amos Crawley (The Virgin Suicides, Private Eyes).
Calahan and Millen will produce with Chad Archibald, with Jeff Maher co-producing and lensing. Christopher Giroux is associate producer with Ira Levy, Michael McGuigan and Nat Abraham exec producing, and with the support of partnerships with William F. Whites, Panavsion Canada, and Redlab Digital.