Aussie Cult Classic Gets The Remake Treatment
Director Mark Hartley is set to terrify a whole new generation with his remake of the 1978 local cult classic ‘Patrick’.
When it hit Australian screens back in 1978, Richard Franklin’s classic Ozploitation flick, Patrick, made quite the impression. And now, as per all things cinematic these days, seemingly, the local horror film is getting a remake with Rachel Griffiths, Sharni Vinson and Charles Dance to headline (with no word on who will play the titular role, though we reckon our favourite son-in-law, Orlando Bloom should do it), and shooting to commence in November this year at Melbourne’s Docklands Studios, and on location.
The tale of Patrick begins when a nurse mysteriously disappears at a remote private clinic. She is quickly replaced by Kathy (Bait 3D’s Sharni Vinson), who is introduced to the intimidating Matron Cassidy (Rachel Griffiths) and the dangerous neurologist Dr. Sebastian Roget (Charles Dance), who shows clear disregard for standard medical practices. The two of them assign Kathy the responsibility of caring for a coma patient, only known as Patrick. However, Patrick’s growing crush on Kathy coupled with his psychic powers, soon develops into a strange and threatening obsession. This remake of Patrick promises a re-imagining with more relevance to today’s technologically reliant society, with Patrick, no doubt, being able to send emails through his psychic powers.
Patrick is produced by the film’s original producer Anthony I. Gianne, written by Justin King, and directed by the AFI award-winning Mark Hartley who will be making his fictional feature debut. Hartley is an inspired choice, however, as he helmed 2008’s excellent Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!, which chronicled the Ozploitation era that rocked Australian cinema in the seventies and eighties.
About his love for the original, and his approach to this remake, Hartley commented: “Growing up, the original Patrick and its director, Richard Franklin, were hugely inspirational to me as a young film fan and aspiring filmmaker so, it’s an absolute honour to be part of the team delivering this classic love-story-with-a-body-count to the big screen in 2013. We've strived to intensify and surpass the jolts and atmosphere of the original so, I can't wait to thrill and unsettle a new generation of chiller fans.”
Patrick will premiere at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival, with Umbrella Entertainment distributing a national release throughout Australia and New Zealand.
.
