News

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 21 scientific and technical achievements represented by 58 individual award recipients will be honored at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation on Saturday, February 7, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.

In addition, veteran sound engineer and Dolby Laboratories executive David W. Gray will receive the Gordon E. Sawyer Award (an Oscar® statuette), presented “to an individual in the motion picture industry whose technological contributions have brought credit to the industry.” Gray’s career has encompassed the design, refinement and implementation of groundbreaking cinema sound technologies, including stereo optical soundtracks, digital sound on film and most recently, Dolby Atmos®. He has served for many years on the Academy’s Science and Technology Council and its Theater Standards Committee, among others, as well as chaired the audio study group of Smpte’s pioneering DC28 technology committee, from which the first two...

And the Oscars go to … the Mat-Towercam Twin Peek, the Biscuit Jr., the Mova Facial Performance Capture System, the Ilm PhysBAM Destruction System and the early conceptualization of sparse-tiled voxel data structures.

That may be Greek to most of us, but it makes sense to the Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee, which on Tuesday announced that those achievements, and 16 others, will be the recipients of this year’s Scientific and Technical Academy Awards.

See photos: Golden Globe Awards: Winners Gallery (Photos)

The awarded achievements include camera mounts and platforms, digital projection technology, advancements that aid in the creation of computer-generated foliage and hair,...

Red Hill is a phenomenal film that explores the element of revenge mixed with the racial tensions that have ruled Australian history for many years. This article is not about the film as a film nor is it a review necessarily but a look at how director Patrick Hughes incorporated many devices of the slasher genre into his movie. While the movie ultimately proves anything but a horror movie, it’s fantastic to take a look at how horror has played a role in being one of the more influential genres out there.

To give you a brief synopsis of the film, a young police officer by the name of Shane Cooper moves with his wife from the city out to the rural and desolate area of Red Hill. I don’t mean desolate in the negative way but more in the way that represents nothing around for miles and...

It’s another jam-packed week of DVD and Blu-ray releases, here’s the rundown of what’s available to buy from today, May 30th 2011.

Just Go With It (DVD/Blu-ray)

Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler) meets the girl of his dreams (Brooklyn Decker) but has to enlist his loyal assistant Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his soon-to-be ex-wife in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, Katherine’s kids become involved, and everyone heads off to Hawaii for a ridiculous, out-of-control weekend that tests the limits of how far we’ll go for love. Review.

The Dilemma (DVD/Blu-ray)

Since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) have been through thick and thin. Now partners in an auto design firm, the two pals are vying to land a dream project that would launch their company. With Ronny’s girlfriend, Beth (Connelly), and Nick’s wife,...

Red Hill

Directed by Patrick Hughes

Written by Patrick Hughes

2010, Australia

Considering the similar historical trajectory to the United States I’ve always wondered why Australian film-makers didn’t produce more Westerns. The obvious answer of course is that as a genre the Western is not in vogue as it once was but the miniscule volume of braves that have stampeded down under over the years contain a modest list of intriguing, intelligent and gripping films – from the brutal The Proposition (2005) to the angry The Chant Of Jimmy Blacksmith (1978) or the cultish Mad Dog Morgan (1976) you’d think that some enterprising antipodean producers would be anxious to exploit their countries history for the chtonic dollar. Similarly potent themes are ripe for exploration whether they are framed by Monument Valley or Ayers Rock, from the settlers uncertain relationship with the indigenous people, the birth of a new civilisation amidst a savage and inhospitable wilderness,...

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

You can always spot a western. Not in the obvious low-slung gun holster, wide brimmed cowboy hat, fist fight in a saloon kind of way, but more in the patented fundamentals of the hero alone, the stranger in a small town, out-gunned and out-manoeuvred, fighting injustice (or just fighting) with nothing but his wits, and a trusty sidearm. Or two. The western ideal also pays no attention to geography, or era, Clint Eastwood has basically been playing in westerns his entire career. Ok, maybe The Bridges of Madison County and Space Cowboys don’t quite fit the playbill, but it’s only a small stampede from The Man With No Name to Harry Callahan or Walt Kowalski.

In Red Hill, written and directed by Patrick Hughes, those ideals are transplanted wholesale to the modern day wilds of outback Australia, where new constable Shane Cooper (True Blood...

Red Hill

Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Tommy Lewis | Written and Directed by Patrick Hughes

Australian police officer Shane Cooper moves to the middle of nowhere with his pregnant wife to get away from the stress and strain of city life. What he gets is anything but… When local TV news reports that convicted killer Jimmy Conway has escaped from jail, all hell breaks lose. Revenge just rode into town.

The first thing that strikes you about Red Hill is that it’s a Western. I don’t mean a modern Western, or a modern thriller with Western overtones, I mean it’s a Western. Horses, a small rickety town, a main street perfect for sniping from rooftops, a trenchcoat-wearing killer intent on revenge. All the classic Western staples are present and correct. Small town Australia makes the perfect setting for a modern day Western, and I’m amazed nobody thought of it sooner.

After impressing at Frightfest last year, director Patrick Hughes' modern day revenge western is arriving in UK cinemas on 13th May with a DVD and Blu-ray release slated for 30th May. Featuring a bold and surprisingly sympathetic performance from Ryan Kwanten, and backed up by support from a grizzled Steve Bisley, Red Hill hits harder than its genre trappings would imply."Revenge rides into the town of Red Hill when convicted murderer Jimmy Conway escapes from jail and returns to the outpost town hunting down the cops who sent him away for life. Enter police office Shane Cooper (True Blood's Ryan Kwanten), whose first day on the job quickly turns into a nightmare as he is caught in the middle of what will become a terrifying and...

Debuting last summer at London’s prestigious Film4 FrightFest, Red Hill is a brand new Western thriller directed by Patrick Hughes, who is making his feature-film directorial debut, and starring Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Claire van der Boom and Tom E. Lewis.

Momentum Pictures are releasing the film in the UK and as such have just opened the films official Facebook page, where this cool new UK quad poster made its debut:

Revenge rides into the town of Red Hill when convicted murderer Jimmy Conway escapes from jail and returns to the outpost town hunting down the cops who sent him away for life. Enter police office Shane Cooper (True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten), whose first day on the job quickly turns into a nightmare as he is caught in the middle of what will become a terrifying and bloody confrontation. Cooper will be forced to take the law into...

Red Hill is a film that straddles several genres, but does it with an Australian flair. It also turns out to be an excellent film that builds up tension grandly and with flair. Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) has chosen to be transferred to the small Australian town of Red Hill. He chose this remote location because his wife (Claire van der Boom) is pregnant. She lost their first child due to stress and Shane thinks that isolation of Red Hill is just what the doctor ordered for a successful birth. Things don.t exactly turn out that way. at least for Shane. He meets the crew of the police station, but doesn.t make a good impression with...

Red Hill just hit the shelves on Blu-ray and DVD today, January 25, and you know we have to celebrate this indie thriller starring True Blood's Ryan Kwanten. We have a new contest running and not only are we giving away copies of the DVD, but we're also handing out an official poster signed by Ryan Kwanten to our readers. You know these prizes will go fast, so enter this contest today:

Winners Receive:

Red Hill poster signed by star Ryan KwantenRed Hill DVD

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten, TV's True Blood) arrives in the small town of Red Hill in search of a quieter life.

Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Tommy Lewis, Claire van der Boom

Director: Patrick Hughes

The Scoop: Straight outta the Austrialian outback comes this modern take on classic western tropes. The new sheriff in town, Shane Cooper (“True Blood” star Kwanten), gets more than he bargained for on his first day of work. And, by “more than he bargained for,” we mean “a bunch of murderous escaped convicts.” Caught between the criminals and the shady local lawmen, Shane has to cut his own trail — or risk being cut down in the crossfire. Hang ‘em high, hoss.

Rated R, 95 min. | Watch the trailer...

So the day has come for you folks to take home Costas Mandylor in the final chapter of the phenomenon that is Saw! Well, at least until the inevitable reboot. Even cooler...if the jolly red-suited fatman brought you a 3D television last month, you can watch this puppy in its gory 3D glory, too.

Another franchise that is buzzing this week is the video game sequel, Dead Space 2. In addition to the game itself, you can also bring home the collector's edition, the album soundtrack, a hardcover game guide, and an animated DVD movie. That should keep you busy for a while.

Oh yeah, there are a couple of other interesting titles with some familiar faces from "True Blood", "Angel", "Buffy", and even "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman".

Saw: The Final Chapter (Blu-ray Review)

Directed by Kevin Greutert

Starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Sean Patrick Flanery, Cary Elwes,...

This week has been busy some amazing news coming in from the Sundance film festival. To mix things up here is our weekly post of notable films coming out on DVD/Blu-ray and some cool films you can add to your instant Netflix queue. Which movies are you looking forward to that are set for release this week? 

Blu-ray Releases:

Dead Space: Aftermath

Add To Queue

Synopsis:

The year is 2509. The first-responder ship Usg O'Bannon has arrived at Aegis VII, attempting to hold the planet together in the wake of the catastrophe that destroyed the Ishimura. But only four members of the O'Bannon crew have survived, and the catastrophe remains unchecked. What went wrong? What secrets do they hide? And what new threats have been revealed...in the Aftermath!

Enter The Void

Add To Queue

Synopsis:

Controversial and brilliant director Gasper Noe follows his worldwide sensation Irreversible with another triumph.

We have a brand new exclusive clip from Red Hill, which will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 25. Click on the video player below to watch this new clip, which features Ryan Kwanten watching a murder in progress:

Click to watch Exclusive: Cooper Watches Rex Get Shot!

Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten, TV's True Blood) arrives in the small town of Red Hill in search of a quieter life. But, on Cooper's first day with the Red Hill Police Department, a convicted murderer escapes from prison and heads straight for Red Hill to kill the men who put him there. One by one, the townsmen fall until Cooper discovers the shocking truth about the convict, and must challenge everything he believes in order to stop the massacre and bring justice to Red Hill.

Red Hill was released November 5th, 2010 and stars Steve Bisley, Kevin Harrington, Ryan Kwanten, Tommy Lewis,...

Another day, another killer giveaway! This time I have a copy of Red Hill, a solid flick that I had the pleasure of checking out at Fantastic Fest. All you need to do to win is be the first to email me, donny@killerfilm.com with the answer to the question below.

What film did Red Hill actor Ryan Kwanten work on with Saw director James Wan?

All applicants must be U.S. citizens, and I’ll post the winner on Monday.

Check out the official synopsis below, then check out the trailer.

Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten, TV’s “True Blood”) arrives in the small town of Red Hill in search of a quieter life. But, on Cooper’s first day with the Red Hill Police Department, a convicted murderer escapes from prison and heads straight for Red Hill to kill the men who put him there. One by one,...

Back at Fantastic Fest, Rob Hunter came out of his screening of Red Hill – featuring Ryan Kwanten from True Blood – and immediately walked from Austin back to San Francisco on a mission to clean up the filth of his town. He, of course, succeeded, and now San Francisco has 2000% fewer snarly-mouthed gangsters who think they “run things.” Now, you can win Red Hill on DVD and find your own inspiration.* (*Fsr does not endorse actual vigilante justice.) How to win: Head over to our Facebook Page and hit the “like” button (since there’s no “love” button). Then proceed to find the post asking how you’d bring justice to your town, and…explain how you’d bring justice to your small town. Clean up the (Us-based) town by January 26th, and you could have a shot at snagging this DVD for yourself. The official plot synopsis: Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten, TV...

Well, folks, 2010 is officially in the can, and unlike 2009 horror movie fans took it in the can a lot less this year. Sure the last twelve months had its fair share of lows, but it also brought us a couple of new classics. As always we covered every single one of them mostly in great detail for you.

Now, with a fresh movie-watching start before us, we're taking our usual yearly look back at the good, the bad, the Wtf, and everything in between.

Don't just read along, though ... give us your lists in the comments section below. We wanna hear from you regarding what we nailed and what we dropped the ball on, so let the games begin!

Dig on our Best of and Worst of lists for 2010 by following the links below!

[The Buz]

[Thom Carnell]

[The Foywonder]

[Heather Wixson]

[Gareth Jones]

[MattFini]

[Nomad]

[The Woman in Black]

[Uncle Creepy]

[Andrew Kasch]

The Buz's Picks

As per usual I failed this year as a horror fan and a movie fan in general.

Red Hill is a serial killer thriller, which will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment January 25th on DVD and Blu-Ray. This film was shot in Australia and the story involves a lone police officer searching for an escaped convict in an even lonelier town. The trailer for the feature is (here) and the film stars Ryan Kwanten ("True Blood"). All the available details on the release are below.

The story for Red Hill begins here:

"When a young police officer, Constable Shane Cooper, relocates to the small high-country town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife, he does so in the hope of starting a new family. But when news of a prison break in the city sends the local law enforcement officers into a panic, Shane's first day on duty quickly goes from bad to worse.

Continues...

Enter Jimmy Conway, a convicted murderer serving life behind bars, he...

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced Red Hill, the supernatural western from director Patrick Hughes, for Blu-ray and DVD January 25th, 2011. You can read Donny Broussard’s review here of the film.

Not much else is known about extra features.

Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten, TV’s “True Blood”) arrives in the small town of Red Hill in search of a quieter life. But, on Cooper’s first day with the Red Hill Police Department, a convicted murderer escapes from prison and heads straight for Red Hill to kill the men who put him there. One by one, the townsmen fall until Cooper discovers the shocking truth about the convict, and must challenge everything he believes in order to stop the massacre and bring justice to Red Hill.

Written and directed by Patrick Hughes, Red Hill was produced by Al Clark and Patrick Hughes, with Rob Galluzzo, Greg Mclean, and...

Ryan Kwanten has got a "bloody" cake for his 34th birthday. When celebrating his special day with a party at The Underground nightclub in Chicago last Saturday, November 27, the "True Blood" actor was presented with a three-tiered birthday cake that is decorated with drops of fake blood.

The actor playing Jason Stackhouse in the HBO series opted to go semi-casual for the bash. He wore a white shirt under a black blazer and a pair of blue jeans. Photos taken from the party capture him blowing out thin candles placed on the top of the cake that is also adorned with the blood-red lips that is featured on the series' season 1 poster.

Birthday party aside, Ryan is currently back in Australia to promote new film "Red Hill". Starring opposite Steve Bisley and Claire van der Bloom in the film, he takes on the role of a young police officer named...

Every once in awhile, a movie really surprises me. It’s not too often. The reason for that is by the time I sit down in a theater, due to watching all the trailers and covering every poster and image release, when I finally see the finished project, I know all the major plot points and characters. It’s an unfortunate side effect of writing about movies.

Which is why Red Hill came out of left field. Since I hadn’t seen that much footage and I didn’t know where the film was going, all the twists and turns were a nice surprise. Also, across the board, from the filmmaking to the acting, it’s top notch and it definitely deserves a wide audience. So you’re probably asking what is it about and how can I see it? Hit the jump for those answers – along with my exclusive interview with writer-director Patrick Hughes.

One flick we're really looking forward to around these parts is Ryan Kwanten's Red Hill (review here), and thanks to Sony we'll be seeing it really soon!

From the Press Release

An action-packed thriller which unfolds over the course of a single day and night, Red Hill debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD January 25th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film stars Ryan Kwanten (HBO’s “True Blood”), Steve Bisley (East of Everything, Sea Patrol, Mad Max), Tom E. Lewis (The Proposition) and Claire van der Boom (The Square) in a modern-day western played out against the extraordinary landscapes of high-country Australia. The moral boundaries of a rookie officer (Kwanten) are pushed to the limit as he fights to stop a killing spree by a mysterious escaped convict (Lewis). Red Hill will be available on Blu-ray™ for $30.95 and DVD for $24.96 Srp.

Written and directed by Patrick Hughes, Red Hill...

The cool looking Aussie thriller Red Hill from writer/director Patrick Hughes has its U.S. release date and we have the low down on it in the press release below along with the poster art and teaser trailer.

From the Press Release:

An action-packed thriller which unfolds over the course of a single day and night, Red Hill debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD January 25th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film stars Ryan Kwanten (HBO’s “True Blood”), Steve Bisley (East of Everything, Sea Patrol, Mad Max), Tom E. Lewis (The Proposition) and Claire van der Boom (The Square) in a modern-day western played out against the extraordinary landscapes of high-country Australia. The moral boundaries of a rookie officer (Kwanten) are pushed to the limit as he fights to stop a killing spree by a mysterious escaped convict (Lewis). Red Hill will be available on Blu-ray™ for $30.95 and DVD for $24.96 Srp.

Director: Patrick Hughes Writer(s): Patrick Hughes Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Tommy Lewis, Claire van der Boom Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten), the young and handsome urban lawman, has recently requested to be transplanted to the quaint environs of Red Hill in high-country Australia in order to lower his wife Alice’s (Claire Van Der Boom) stress level during her pregnancy. Red Hill takes place during Shane’s first day at his new job, which starts off badly and goes downhill from there.

There's nothing wrong with Patrick Hughes western thriller Red Hill, but there's nothing exceptional about it either. It's a throwback gunslinger flick set in the outback of Australia, with decent performances, a fairly boilerplate story that furls out well enough, and a moderate amount of shoot-em'-up violence. It's a solid effort, but it just feels so restrained and unexceptional it's hard to really get excited about it. While this might only be a second-cousin to the Blue-Tongue Films spirit, I'm so spoiled by the taught tension and intensity that when I see something that had every opportunity to flare up into brilliance but just doesn't, I'm nonplussed. It's the cinematic equivalent of an everyday hour long commute. There's no surprises, and whether you happen to hit a break in the traffic or it's bumper to bumper, you're still going to end up in the same general place, give or take 15 minutes.

"Red Hill"; with Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley and Tommy Lewis; directed by Patrick Hughes

By Lita Robinson - November 12, 2010

“Red Hill,” a new Australian thriller, forcibly reminded me of “No Country for Old Men.” A lone gunman busts out of prison and stalks his way back to the town where he was arrested intent on getting his long-awaited revenge. It’s like a stripped-down Eastwood picture; there’s crime, there’s killing, and in the end everyone gets their due.

The weird part about this film is that it stars Ryan Kwanten, best known for his role as Jason Stackhouse on HBO’s “True Blood.” His character in that show is certainly plucky and daring, but not exactly the brightest crayon in the box. In “Red Hill” his character, Shane Cooper, resembles Jason in many ways: he seems to be perpetually out of the loop, always in danger but never quite sure why.

Australian director and upcomer, Patrick Hughes, after years of directing short films, finally saw a winner in is neo western, outback set drama, Red Hill. Us studios loved it so much they purchased for distribution overseas. I got a chance to see this film this week and it was quite good. A simple concept, the execution of the drama is where it succeeds the most. Hughes does a wonderful job with classic western film tension scenes. You remember those moments in a John Wayne movie where the camera would be close up on the piercing eyes of a menacing gunman while shit was about to go down. I even like Hughes honing on his inner Tombstone with a gritty old town sheriff saying “Hell’s coming with him.” I was like, is Wyatt Earp there too?

Now you can see why a Us studio would have picked this movie up for distribution,...

When an actor is the star of a hit television series, they typically use their off time to act if films. The experience can be a creative outlet for the artistic set who may tire of playing the same character over and over each week. So how did True Blood star Ryan Kwanten use his time away from the southern vampire drama? He became a cowboy. Starring as Shane Cooper, a young police officer who moves into the country with his pregnant wife, Kwanten is thrown into the worst day in the history of the town as an escaped prisoner returns to town to seek vengeance against those that put him away. Sitting down with Kwanten as part of a roundtable interview, we discussed his affection for the western genre, how he dealt with the below-freezing temperatures on the outback and how to make yourself look like an idiot while...

Every once in awhile, a movie really surprises me. It’s not too often. The reason for that is by the time I sit down in a theater, due to watching all the trailers and covering the film for sometimes two years while the project is coming together, when I finally see the finished film, I know all the major plot points and characters. It’s an unfortunate side effect of writing about movies.

Which is why Red Hill really floored me. I’d heard good things going in, but I was not prepared for how much I’d enjoy this film. Across the board, from the filmmaking to the acting, it’s top notch and it definitely deserves a wide audience. So you’re probably asking what is it about and how can I see it? Hit the jump for those answers – along with my exclusive interview with Ryan Kwanten...

The Fsr crew got a chance to see Red Hill at Fantastic Fest, and the film is now seeing the darkness of theaters in Austin, New York, and Los Angeles on November 5th (that’s tomorrow (and, seriously, go buy a calander)). With all that money you’re spending on calendars, you won’t be able to afford a poster for the film. That’s a shame. Fortunately, we’ve got three of them that happen to be signed by star Ryan Kwanten and director Patrick Hughes. Three posters means three lucky winners. Find out what you can do to win inside. First, here’s a look at the poster: It’s nice to know it’s a good lookin’ poster to boot. Now imagine it with signatures on it, and you’re halfway there. Now, to win, all you have to do is leave us a message in the comments section explaining what movie franchise you...

TV stars are notorious for making terrible choices when attempting the leap to feature films. Many choose the lead in a big horror/romantic comedy/action flick instead of taking on lead roles in small, intimate films, or small roles in big films. “True Blood’s” Ryan Kwanten can be commended for returning to his native Australia to star in a small feature in his attempt to springboard to silver screen stardom, but it helps, no matter what kind of flick you go for, to choose a Good film.

Kwanten plays Shane Cooper, a cop who has moved to a dusty, backwoods Australian town. His first day on the job, a horse is attacked by some mysterious creature; a mute, scarred killer escapes prison and heads for town; and there’s some hooey about a panther. Yes, a panther. In the Australian Outback. Police and some townsfolk batten down the hatches,...

"Red Hill" is a movie smoothie: a whole bunch of different movies blended together in one mixture that combines the tropes of several genres. Take a couple parts American Western, throw in a handful of 80s slasher film, a dash of 70s revenge and vigilante movies, and sprinkle in some racial injustice as the crunchy granola social commentary on top. In movies like this, as with smoothies, it's all about the recipe: balancing out all the ingredients so they work in harmony and your concoction isn't too sweet or gritty. For the most part, "Red Hill" goes down smooth, though there are a few chunky bits that could have used an extra pulse through the blender.

The setting and setup are pure Western, albeit one set in the high country of modern Australia rather than nineteenth century United States. Even the hero's name, Shane Cooper, comes from the West, obviously...

Following its world premiere earlier this year at the Berlin International Film Festival, Patrick Hughes' feature directorial debut "Red Hill" hits U.S. theaters in limited release this Friday, November 5. In anticipation of the film's opening, Hughes shared an exclusive scene from his thriller with indieWIRE. The Film When a young police officer, Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten), relocates to the small country town of 'Red Hill' with his pregnant ...

Following its world premiere earlier this year at the Berlin International Film Festival, Patrick Hughes' feature directorial debut "Red Hill" hits U.S. theaters in limited release this Friday, November 5. In anticipation of the film's opening, Hughes shared an exclusive scene from his thriller with indieWIRE. The Film When a young police officer, Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten), relocates to the small country town of 'Red Hill' with his pregnant ...

Following its world premiere earlier this year at the Berlin International Film Festival, Patrick Hughes' feature directorial debut "Red Hill" hits U.S. theaters in limited release this Friday, November 5. In anticipation of the film's opening, Hughes shared an exclusive scene from his thriller with indieWIRE. The Film When a young police officer, Constable Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten), relocates to the small country town of 'Red Hill' with his pregnant ...

True Blood fans hoping to see more of Ryan Kwanten (with his native Australian accent and his shirt on), are in luck: This Friday, his new movie, the modern-day Western Red Hill, opens in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin, with additional markets to follow. Kwanten stars as a young police officer named Shane Cooper who relocates to the remote Aussie outpost Red Hill with his pregnant wife (Claire van der Boom) for a less stressful life. Cue Jimmy Conway (Tom E. Lewis), a convicted wife killer, escaping from prison on Shane’s first day with one goal in mind:...

Best known as Jason Stackhouse on HBO's True Blood , Ryan Kwanten takes the lead in the genre-bending Red Hill as Australian police office Shane Cooper who, reassigned to a remote country town, finds himself up against a revenge-driven killer. Equal parts thriller, Western, action and slasher film, Red Hill is set to hit theaters this Friday, November. Shock Till You Drop had the chance to sit and chat with Kwanten and writer/director Patrick Hughes about their aim with the film and what it took to bring the stylish tale to the big screen.

Title: Red Hill Directed by: Patrick Hughes Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Claire van der Boom and Tommy Lewis Red Hill: not only is it a place aimed to showcase a largely uninhabited area of Australia that many people don’t know about, but it’s also the place that highlights the talents of a cast and crew that many people aren’t familiar with. The new independent drama, which was directed and written by newcomer Patrick Hughes, and features actors Steve Bisley, Tom E. Lewis and ‘True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten, is the latest testament proving that Hollywood isn’t the only place that creates great western-thrillers. The movie follows a young city police officer, Shane Cooper (played [...]...

Read our interview with ‘True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten, who is starring as Shane Cooper in the new Australian thriller ‘Red Hill.’ The movie follows Shane as he moves his pregnant wife Alice, played by Claire van der Boom, to the small town of Red Hill to start their family. On the day they arrive, convicted murderer Jimmy Conway, portrayed by Tom E. Lewis, escapes from prison, and returns to Red Hill to seek revenge. The police force is sent into a panic. Kwanten discusses, among other things, what it was like filming in his native Australia again, and how shooting the movie was different from filming the hit HBO series. Question [...]...

Ryan Kwanten loves westerns, so it didn't take much for him to sign on to first-time feature director Patrick Hughes' "Red Hill," a thriller that pays tribute to the genre and that happens to be set (and was filmed) in Kwanten's native Australia. The actor plays a dedicated, diligent yet innocent small-town cop, almost channeling Kwanten's small-screen alter ego, Jason Stackhouse of "True Blood," in the process. Back Stage caught up with Kwanten to discuss "Red Hill"; his burgeoning feature film career, which will include playing Charles Manson; and filming in Australia. Back Stage: How did "Red Hill" come to you?Ryan Kwanten: It's been one of those Aussie surprises. It was the first time I'd worked back in Australia in about eight years. It wasn't my intention to go back there. What I liked about it was the throwback to the classic-style western. The character that I play,...

Rating: 3.5/5

Writer: Patrick Hughes

Director: Patrick Hughes

Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Tommy Lewis, Claire van der Boom, Cliff Ellen

It is Shane Cooper’s (Ryan Kwanten) first day on the job in the tiny town of Red Hill. The young police officer has moved himself and his expecting wife (Claire van der Boom) out to a veritable no man’s land for a taste of the slow life, to get out of the city, and maybe to get over some lingering issues Cooper has with the nature of his job. But Red Hill is not the place to go for a strolling-down-Main-Street type of existence. Not even remotely.

Read more on Fantastic Fest 2010 Review: Red Hill…...

Red Hill

Directed By: Patrick Hughes

Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley, Tom E. Lewis, Claire van der Boom

Strand Releasing

Release Date: November 5, 2010 (limited)

If anything is terrifying for an authority figure to think about, it's a very dangerous man that they had a big part in putting away for a long, long time coming back to town for bloody vengeance. This is exactly what happens in Red Hill.

The movie follows Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten), a good cop from the city who, after some difficult times and heavy stress lead to his wife (Claire van der Boom) losing their unborn child, transfers to the small town of Red Hill in hopes that their new attempt at starting a family works out a lot better. The day after they arrive at their new home, Shane begins his new job with the town, which is so small that they even still...

Remember 'High Plains Drifter' (1973) starring Clint Eastwood as yet another nameless stranger seeking revenge against the men who wronged him? Perhaps it's easier to remember Javier Bardem's relentless killing spree while seeking the up-for-grabs cash in 'No Country for Old Men' (2007). If you like stories about an avenging wraith leaving a trail of bloody bodies behind him, you might just like 'Red Hill' from Australia. We follow a new deputy Shane Cooper (his name an obvious tribute to the Western genre) (Ryan Kwanten) newly of the small town of Red Hill....

Red Hill is a straightforward modern revenge western that provides plenty of slick thrills and pacey action, with racial undertones and perhaps the most startling animal appearance of the year...if that's even a category.

Police officer Shane Cooper (True Blood's Ryan Kwanten) and his wife move from the city to the rural Red Hill, in search of a peaceful existence in which they can raise their child. On arrival, Cooper immediately clashes with police chief Old Bill (Steve Bisley) who's not one for city folk. Cooper's first day gets worse still, when murderer Jimmy Conway (Tommy Lewis) escapes from a maximum security prison and the police department seems convinced he's heading for Red Hill. Having put him away originally, Bill is certain the half aborigine Conway is out for revenge. Over the course of a single day and night Cooper untangles the town's murky history whilst avoiding death at the hands of Conway,...

Red Hill is Written and Directed by Patrick Hughes. The film stars Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Steve Bisley (East of Everything) and Tommy Lewis. Red Hill premieres November 5. Red Hill Synopsis Young police officer Shane Cooper relocates to the small country town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife Alice to start a family. But when news of a prison break sends the local law enforcement officers - led by the town's ruling presence, Old Bill - into a panic, Shane's first day on duty rapidly turns into a nightmare. Enter Jimmy Conway, a convicted murderer serving life behind bars, who has returned to the isolated outpost seeking revenge. Now caught in the middle of what will become a terrifying and bloody confrontation, Shane will be forced to take the law into his own hands if he is to survive. A taut thriller which unfolds over the course of a...

Hey gang! Here's the trailer for a great looking Australian modern day western called Red Hill. As a big fan of western's this movie looks like it's going to be pretty damn good. It's got a great dark and gritty western feel to it, as well as a group of badass characters that we're sure to enjoy.

Coming across this trailer was a pleasant surprise, I love movies like this. We don't see enough westerns being made these days, unfortunately it's a dying genre. 

Synopsis:

Young police officer Shane Cooper relocates to the small country town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife Alice to start a family. But when news of a prison break sends the local law enforcement officers - led by the town's ruling presence, Old Bill - into a panic, Shane's first day on duty rapidly turns into a nightmare. Enter Jimmy Conway, a convicted murderer serving life behind bars,...

Way back in March of this year we posted that Sony Pictures had picked up the Us distribution rights to a Aussie, Neo-western film from Patrick Hughes called Red Hill. Well now the studio has released a new trailer and poster for Us audiences.

The film will be released November 5, 2010 but not before it will play at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Mill Valley Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, and the Philadelphia Film Festival.

The trailer is a lot different than the international version and features some crisp interludes explaining some of the plot. Overall it sells the movie in a good way, a dramatic story of one man searching for a place to settle down, becoming a nightmare he never imagined.

Young police officer Shane Cooper relocates to the small country town of Red Hill with his pregnant wife Alice to start a family. But when news of a...

The 46th Chicago International Film Festival is coming, and The Scorecard Review will be there will exclusive interviews, movie reviews and red carpet events beginning October 7, 2010.

Here’s the first 20 films announced for the festival. Below is the news release.

October 7 – 21, 2010

Chicago, August 25, 2010 – Cinema/Chicago is proud to announce the first 20 new films that will appear at this year’s Chicago International Film Festival. Among them are some of the most anticipated domestic and foreign films featuring well-respected talent and directors as well as the work of exceptional newcomers. From Slumdog Millionaire and Resevoir Dogs to Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, The Chicago International Film Festival has consistently brought the brightest and boldest new films and filmmakers to Chicago first. Audiences will be delighted to find that this year’s Festival will be no different. Below is just a taste of the more than 150 films that will be shown at...

I've been keeping my eye on Red Hill, a modern-day Western from first time feature filmmaker Patrick Hughes, for a couple of months now. Star Ryan Kwanten (who plays Jason Stackhouse on True Blood) is what put it on my radar, but it was the striking first trailer for the film that kept it on there. It's played a few festivals so far this year to fairly unanimous praise and it looks like the plan is to continue building that fest circuit buzz since Red Hill will be playing at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Mill Valley Film Festival, Fantastic Fest and the Philadelphia Film Festival.

If you happen to not live near any of the cities housing those fine fests, though, no worries, it won't be too long before you have a chance to see it: Strange Releasing will be putting Red Hill in theaters on November 5th.