UK Film Council and Film4 Present in association with Screen Yorkshire
A Warp X/ Rook Films Production
KILL LIST
A FILM BY BEN WHEATLEY
WRITTEN BY BEN WHEATLEY & AMY JUMP STARRING NEIL MASKELL,
MICHAEL SMILEY, MYANNA BURING & EMMA FRYER
Release Date: 2nd September 2011 / Runtime: 95mins / Certificate: TBC
Press contact: Zoe Flower / zoe@emfoundation.com / 020 724741
Images and production notes are available at
www.optimumreleasing.com/press
SHORT SYNOPSIS
Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred,
ex-soldier turned contract killer, Jay, is pressured by his partner, Gal, into taking a
new assignment. As they descend into the dark and disturbing world of the contract,
Jay begins to unravel once again – his fear and paranoia sending him deep into the
heart of darkness.
LONG SYNOPSIS
Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred,
ex-soldier turned contract killer, Jay, is pressured by his partner, Gal, and wife Shel,
into taking a new assignment.
Jay & Gal visit the mysterious Client. Both are disturbed by the Client’s knowledge of
“Kiev” and are further shocked when he slashes Jay’s hand as part of a bizarre blood
pact to seal the contract. Jay returns home to prepare and say his farewells to Shel
and his son Sam.
The first victim is a priest. The hit is straightforward apart from the priest being
seemingly aware of his fate and even more bizarrely, thankful to Jay. The body is
dealt with and they prepare for the next phase of the contract.
After a short stakeout they break into a lockup and find shelves stacked with the
detritus of pornography and duplicating equipment. Gal flicks on a monitor and
watches. He is visibly shaken by the unseen images. Jay takes his turn and what he
sees makes him physically break down. The switch is flicked. At the second victim’s
home Jay tortures the man until he reveals information about the films. Gal heads
upstairs to look for money and again the victim acknowledges Jay and thanks him for
his fate. The shock and confusion are too much for Jay who viciously attacks the
man.
Concerned about Jay and mindful of what happened in ‘Kiev’, Gal convinces Jay to
try and ditch the job. Shel is scared and takes Sam to a safe house they keep.
Returning to the client their attempts to abort the mission are rejected and they come
away with details of another victim. An MP.
In the wooded grounds of the MP’s manor house Jay and Gal stumble across a
bizarre ritualistic ceremony. Through the trees they witness a bizarre parade of
people – all wearing masks constructed from twigs and wicker. Many are naked and
carrying flaming torches. They have stumbled into a cult ritual and Jay’s final descent
into the heart of darkness begins…
CREW BIOGRAPHIES
Ben Wheatley – Director and Co-Writer
Ben Wheatley’s debut film DOWN TERRACE won numerous awards, including Best
Feature at Fantastic Fest, Raindance and Boston, and played major film festivals
throughout the world. (Moma NYC, Rotterdam, PIFAN, Melbourne, LA). On its
release in the US and UK it garnered fantastic reviews across the board. (“Stunning”
Time Out New York, “Highly entertaining” The Observer UK).
Ben’s internet animations, films, cartoons, comic strips and viral ads have an
international audience of over 20 million people via his website Mr and Mrs Wheatley
(http://mrandmrswheatley.blogspot.com)
Wheatley has won multiple awards for his commercials and viral work including Gold,
Silver and Bronze Lions at Cannes Advertising Festival and has directed many
television shows including BBC3’s cult hit IDEAL, UK CH4’s MODERN TOSS and
the Bafta nominted WRONG DOOR. KILL LIST is his second feature film.
Andy Starke – Producer
After ten years in the world of television post-production, and five years as part of
psychedelic rock group “Regular Fries” (currently residing in the “where-are-theynow” section), Starke founded Boum Productions with award winning writer and film
historian, Pete Tombs. For Boum, Starke has written, produced, directed & edited
numerous TV, film and documentary projects.
Boum has received worldwide acclaim for its ground breaking Mondo Macabro DVD
label, focusing on "the wild side of world cinema” and dedicated to preserving
formally “lost” genre movies from countries not usually associated with “popular”
cinema.
In 2007 Boum founded Mondo Macabro Movies to bring original productions to the
screen – the first, ZIBAHKHANA, directed by Omar Ali Khan, was the first ever
modern horror movie to be independently produced in Pakistan, and went on to win
multiple awards and play worldwide on the festival circuit, before being sold for
distribution in all the major territories.
In 2010 Starke set up Rook Films with director Ben Wheatley to produce a slate of
original feature films including Wheatley’s acclaimed debut feature DOWN
TERRACE.
Claire Jones – Producer
Claire Jones has produced a number of commercials and online hit films with director
Ben Wheatley. KILL LIST is her first feature film.
Claire began her career in law after gaining a law degree and finishing law school.
During her brief foray as a paralegal, she dipped her toes into the world of filmmaking by running on weekends for the London Film School. Quickly realising it was
far more interesting than insurance law, she jumped ship and entered the world of
production.
On joining Tomboy Films she became a Production Manager for various directors,
including Stephen Frears, Mark Mylod and John Madden and in 2006, at the age of
26, she set up one of the first digital companies, Tomboy Virals, signing and
producing for top online creative talent.
In 2008, Claire started producing for Blink Productions. Filming across the globe,
she’s produced numerous commercials, music videos and digital shorts including an
Emmy nominated short for Outstanding Online Comedy.
WARP X
Pioneering digital film studio Warp X is based in Sheffield, with a satellite office
in London. Warp X shares the reputation of its sister companies Warp Records and
Warp Films (Submarine, Four Lions, Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee, This is England, Dead
Man's Shoes) for combining creative originality with commercial success.
By harnessing cutting edge digital technology and low budget production methods
Warp X makes high value movies that can reach cinema audiences across the world.
These films are being managed and produced by Warp X for the Low Budget
Feature Film Scheme, originally set up in 2006 by the UK Film Council's New
Cinema Fund and Film4 to revitalise the low-budget sector of the British film
industry.
Previous Warp X releases include A Complete History of My Sexual Failures (dir:
Chris Waitt) and Donkey Punch (dir: Olly Blackburn) in 2008, Hush (dir: Mark
Tonderai), music festival film All Tomorrow's Parties and Bunny and the Bull (a
comedy from The Mighty Boosh director Paul King) in 2009 and She, A
Chinese (from Chinese writer/director Xiaolu Guo) was released early in 2010.
Upcoming releases include Paddy Considine's directorial feature debut Tyrannosaur,
Ben Wheatley's Kill List and Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio.
Warp X is an initiative of Film4, UK Film Council, Screen Yorkshire and Optimum
Releasing. www.warpx.co.uk
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Neil Maskell – Jay
KILL LIST is the first starring role for Neil Maskell. Since the mid eighties Neil has
appeared on screen, stage and television. His film roles include parts in THE
FOOTBALL FACTORY, BASIC INSTINCT 2, IT’S ALL GONE PETE TONG and
RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER. His television work has spanned many genres and
he has had parts in acclaimed dramas such as SILENT WITNESS and SHAMELESS
as well as appearing in many highly regarded comedy shows including THE WRONG
DOOR and THE MORGANA SHOW. As well as teaching theatre he has appeared in
many productions including Not Gods But Giants, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh;
Shoot, Jermyn Street Theatre, London and Golden Balls, Old Red Lion, London. In
2010 Neil wrote and directed the short film “SHITKICKER” for DP Films.
Michael Smiley – Gal
Since his first major TV role as cycle courier “Tyres” in Simon Pegg & Nick Frost’s
SPACED – Michael Smiley has appeared in numerous film and television roles. His
film work includes John Landis’ BURKE & HARE, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL and
Ben Wheatley’s award winning DOWN TERRACE, where his role as a hitman with a
baby in tow was frequently singled out as a star turn. His television credits include
LUTHER, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING & FIFTEEN STOREYS HIGH. He is an
acclaimed stand up comedian and continually tours throughout Britain and the rest of
the world.
MyAnna Buring – Shel
MyAnna Buring has recently completed filming THE TWILIGHT SAGAS final
installments BREAKING DAWN 1 & 2, playing Tanya Denali. Other film credits
include leads in a variety of genres such as the critically acclaimed hit horror THE
DESCENT, indie film CITY RATS and the comedy LESBIAN VAMPIRE KILLERS.
She worked previously with Ben Wheatley as a regular on the BBC Comedy series
THE WRONG DOOR. Other television credits include DR WHO, ANY HUMAN
HEART (opposite Jim Broadbent) and GEORGE GENTLY. MyAnna won a Fringe
Report Award for Best Actress in a Political Drama for her performance in Peter
Morris' GUARDIANS. Myanna studied drama at LAMDA.
Emma Fryer – Fiona
As a writer and performer of her own original material, (including BBC2’s HOME
TIME) Emma Fryer has become one of the British comedy scene’s leading lights.
Her television credits include leading roles in hit comedies PHONESHOP and IDEAL.
Her radio comedy includes SHEDTOWN as well as BBC Radio 4 productions Sarah
Millican's Support Group, Beauty of Britain and Clement Doesn't Live Here Anymore.
KILL LIST is her first major film role.
INTERVIEW WITH BEN WHEATLEY
How did you get started making films?
DOWN TERRACE was my first film, though I had directed a lot of television and
adverts before that. DOWN TERRACE was self funded and very low budget. Making
a feature film was something I’d wanted to do from a young age and I realised that if I
didn't go for it then, it would never happen.
How did KILL LIST come about?
Kill List came about through conversations with Warp Films. We showed them a slate
of projects that we were developing (some already scripted; some just treatments)
and they really liked Kill List. Kill List was a full script at that point. It went through a
few more drafts but didn't change majorly. Warp were very supportive during the
making of the film as were Film Four and the UKFC.
I wanted to continue on with the techniques I’d used in DOWN TERRACE. Using
improvisation alongside a tight script; showing raw emotion mixed with moments of
violence and comedy. The script was written for specific actors with casting only for
the smaller roles.
Why a horror film?
I’ve always loved horror films, but there seem to be so few that are actually scary. I
wanted to make something that would make the audience afraid and unnerved. I sat
down with Amy Jump (co - writer) and we thought about the things that scared us the
most and then built the script around that. A lot of the sequences are built around reoccurring nightmares I’ve had since childhood. I thought that if these things scared
me then - they would scare a larger audience.
Tell us about the cast and the casting process:
I’ve worked with all the principle cast of KILL LIST before. Neil Maskell, Michael
Smiley and Myanna Buring all appeared in a TV sketch show I directed called The
Wrong Door. I’d made a mental note that I wanted to work with them again. I got the
chance with Michael on DOWN TERRACE, and with Neil on an advert. Once I got to
know the two of them a bit better the thought of pairing them up started forming.
When we were writing the script we always had their voices in mind.
Emma Fryer and Ben Crompton were both in Ideal, another TV show I had directed
and I was really keen to work with them again. There are also returning faces from
DOWN TERRACE (Rob and Bob Hill, Mark Kempner and Gareth Tunley). The main
bit of casting was Struan Rodger, who brought great weight and subtly to his role as
the client.
What does KILL LIST mean?
I am a big fan of working hard in movies. I don't like to be able to understand and
double guess a film as I watch it. I want it to surprise me and confound me. There are
many strands running through KILL LIST; some easy to grasp (the hit men doing a
job) some harder (who is the client? why do they target Jay) The information is there
in the film, it’s lurking in the corners of frames. I think it’s far more scary to be half
told, than definitively told.
CREDITS
DIRECTED BY BEN WHEATLEY
WRITTEN BY
BEN WHEATLEY
AMY JUMP
ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE BY THE CAST
NEIL MASKELL
MICHAEL SMILEY
MYANNA BURING
EMMA FRYER
PRODUCED BY
CLAIRE JONES & ANDY STARKE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
KATHERINE BUTLER
HUGO HEPPELL
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
ROBIN GUTCH
CO-PRODUCER
BARRY RYAN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
ALLY GIPPS
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
LAURIE ROSE
EDITORS
ROBIN HILL
BEN WHEATLEY
AMY JUMP
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
DAVID BUTTERWORTH
MUSIC
JIM WILLIAMS
CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
JAY
SHEL
SAM
GAL
FIONA
NEIL MASKELL
MYANNA BURING
HARRY SIMPSON
MICHAEL SMILEY
EMMA FRYER
THE CLIENT
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST
JUSTIN
KIERA
STUART
HOTEL WAITRESS
THE PRIEST
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST 2
THE LIBRARIAN
THE DOCTOR
THORN BLINDFOLD WOMAN
HIGH PRIEST
THE BRIDE
MP
FATHER OF THE BRIDE
NEWS READER
RADIO REPORTER
RADIO REPORTER
STRUAN RODGER
ESME FOLLEY
BEN CROMPTON
GEMMA LISE THORNTON
ROBIN HILL
ZOE THOMAS
GARETH TUNLEY
JAMELLE OLA
MARK KEMPNER
DAMIEN THOMAS
LORA EVANS
BOB HILL
REBECCA HOLMES
JAMES NICKERSON
DAVID BOWEN
SARA DEE
ALICE LOWE
STEVE ORAM
PROCESSION MEMBERS
TOM ADCOCK
CHAELYN ALLCOCK
JAMES BATESON
ALEX BLAKE
JOHN CHAPPELL
FRENCHIE COWLEY
GLYNN DAVIES
SHANE FITZSIMMONS
KATYA GALIANA-PHILIP
BRIAN GAUGAN
LORNA GLADHLL
ALICE HARRAND
BIANCA HAY
KARL HALLIWELL
JOSH HONEYBOURNE
CIARAN HUMPHRIES
GARETH IAN JAMES
LUCIE JAMES
ALEX JANCZENIA
NIKI JONES
NICK LEA
ANN LOMAX
KEITH LOMAX
LAUREN MAILE-WILSON
DAVID MARES
JIMMY MAY
DAVE MCKINLEY
EMILY MCKINLEY
RICHARD MILEHAM
JOSH MOORE
HANNAH MURTON
STEPHEN RAWSLEY
HANNAH RENTON
SIMON SMITH
ANDY STIRLING
ANN TURNER
DENNIS TURNER
JANICE WORSLEY
ADDITIONAL CAST
KEN BIRCH
STEPHEN PRESTON
LEE STEELE
JOY PALMER
SHARRON HARDY
JOHN STRIKER
RICHARD STOCKS
JENNIFER ANDREWS
JANICE BIRD
ANTHONY BLAKESLEY
EDWARD BOOTH
JOAN COOPER
LYNN COPPERFIELD
DAVID CHARLES DENWOOD
DAPHNE ELAND
PHILIP H JAKOB
PAT KELLY
NADINE LLOYD
AAHID RASOOL
LYN WESSON
STUART WEBB
DOROTHY WEBB
FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
JAMES SHARPE
CASTING
ALI FEARNLEY
MAKE UP & HAIR DESIGN
FIONA LAVIN
COSTUME DESIGNER
LANCE MILLIGAN
SOUND RECORDIST
ROB ENTWISTLE
SOUND DESIGN
MARTIN PAVEY
CHIEF LIGHTING TECHNICIAN
TERRY MASKELL
COLOURIST
PERRY GIBBS
LOCATIONS/UNIT MANAGER
TOM JENKINS
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR
ANITA CHRISTY
SAMANTHA WARNER
PRODUCTION MANAGER
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
KATE LARKING
JUDE GOLDREI
DATA WRANGLER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
SECOND ASSISTANT EDITOR
JASON RAYTON
CHRIS BROWN
ALICE HARRAND
THIRD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
SEBASTIAN HENDRY
FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA
SECOND ASSISTANT CAMERA
JIB OPERATOR
VIDEO OVERLAY
NICK GILLESPIE
ROBERT SHAW
NEIL LAMMOND
ROB MITCHELL
LIGHTING ASSISTANT
GENNY OP
BALLOON LIGHT OPERATOR
FRASER ROE
HOWARD ROE
JOHN CARTWRIGHT
BOOM OPERATOR
BEN COLLINSON
SUPERVISING ART DIRECTOR
ART DIRECTOR
PROP HAND
ASSISTANT PROPS BUYER
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
SET PAINTER
SET PAINTER
CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANT
NICK WILKINSON
JULIE ANN HORAN
CAINE SHIROVAY
PHILIY PAGE
MALCOLM GILBERT
NIGEL TANDY
ADRIAN PULLEN
MATT RISBEY
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT
ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
GARETH JONES
NICK HODSON
SPECIAL MAKE-UP & PROSTHETICS
MAKE UP ASSISTANT
COSTUME ASSISTANT
MIKE STRINGER-HYBRID DESIGN
PAT FOAD
HAYLEY NEIL
STUNT CO-ORDINATOR
GLENN MARKS
SPECIAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR
BEN ASHMORE
SPECIAL EFFECTS TECHNICIANS
SPECIAL EFFECTS CO-ORDINATOR
DANIEL BENTLEY
WILLIAM JOHNSTON
CLAIRE ASHMORE
PRODUCTION RUNNER / EPK
PRODUCTION RUNNER
PRODUCTION INTERN
PRODUCTION INTERN
DANIEL BIRD
DARREN CONWAY
CHAELYN ALLCOCK
LUCIE JAMES
EXTRAS CASTING
EXTRAS CASTING
MOHSAN QURESHI
PAULA MCKIE
LOCATIONS SCOUT
LOCATIONS SCOUT
UNIT SECURITY
NADIA HALL
NICK GIRVAN
IAN LISI
MARK STRATTON
BOB BARKER
CHRIS SMITH
UNIT MEDIC
ACTION VEHICLES
GEORGE MORRIS
ARMOURERS
STUDIO ARMOURY
ANIMAL HANDLER
SUE CLARK
VOCALS
VIOLIN
MUSIC MIX ENGINEER
LISA ABBOT
IAN BELTON
PAUL GOLDING
VISUAL EFFECTS
VFX POST-PRODUCER
FLAME OPERATOR
BIG BUOY
IAN HARLAND
JIM ALLEN
VFX COMPOSITOR
GRAPHICS
CHRIS TAYLOR
CYRIAK HARRIS
STILLS
BEN WHEATLEY
TRACEY WELCH
NICK GILLESPIE
POST-PRODUCTION FACILITIES
THE FARM
IAN DODD
LOUISE CHANNING
SOUND MIXED AT
MPMP / THE POWER LOFT
INTERNATIONAL SALES
PROTAGONIST PICTURES LTD
WORLD REVENUES COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY
FREEWAY CAM B.V.
FOR FILM4
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER
BUSINESS AFFAIRS
HEAD OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
TRACEY JOSEPHS
FIONA LAMPTEY
LOUISE LONG
SUE BRUCE-SMITH
FOR UKFC
SENIOR PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE
LIZZIE FRANCKE
SENIOR BUSINESS AFFAIRS EXECUTIVE
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION FINANCE
GERALDINE ATLEE
FIONA MORHAM
AMANDA PYNE
FOR SCREEN YORKSHIRE
PRODUCTION LIASON MANAGER
CHRIS HORDLEY
CREW & FREELANCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
NICKY BALL
HEAD OF PRODUCTION SUPPORT
JIM RICHARDSON
FOR WARPX
MANAGING DIRECTOR
ROBIN GUTCH
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
BARRY RYAN
HEAD OF COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS ALEX MARSHALL
HEAD OF FINANCE
NIALL SHAMMA
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
JEN KENWOOD
POST PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR
RAHAT KULSHRESHTHA
LEGAL SERVICES (WARP X)
LEGAL SERVICES (ROOK)
KATE WILSON
JAMES PENNY
PRODUCTION INSURANCE
DAVID JOHNSTONE
MEDIA INSURANCE LTD
NEG CHECK
TONIA COHEN
CAPELLO
CATERING
FACILITIES
ACE FILM CATERING
IAN KITCHINGHAM
AMRO FACILITIES
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
LUKE WRAY
PROVISION
CALUMET
LENS HIRE
AUDIO EQUIPMENT
RADIOS
NIGEL WOODFORD
RICHMOND FILM SERVICES
MARK RUSSELL
AUDIOLINK
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
JON SPENCER
STEVE MAY
PROVISION
ACCOMODATION
SHEFFIELD CITY LETTINGS
FORGET THE HOTEL
JURY’S INN SHEFFIELD
"It Could Have Been Better"
Written by: Joan Armatrading/Pam Nestor
Published: Onward Music Ltd/Bucks Music Group Ltd
Recording Courtesy of: Tuesday Productions Ltd/Onward Music Ltd
SPECIAL THANKS:
MARK HERBERT, HUGO YOUNG, PETE TOMBS, ANGE, ANDY & TOM ROBERTS, CHRIS
HALE, PAUL SIMPSON, JEREMY DISKIN AND EVERYONE AT BURNGREAVE NEW DEAL
FOR COMMUNITIES, AIM IMAGE, ADAM DISKIN, MIKE BRADDICK & SUE HUBBARD AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD, BUNGALOWS AND BEARS, DAVE WINSTANLEY AT
THE SHOWROOM CINEMA SHEFFIELD, ANDREW DEIGHAN – THE ASTON HOTEL, THE
SHEFFIELD PARK HOTEL, JONATHAN TESTER AT BUCKS MUSIC.
NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS FILM
THE CHARACTERS AND INCIDENTS PORTRAYED AND THE NAMES HEREIN ARE
FICTICIOUS, AND ANY SIMILARITY TO THE NAME, CHARACTER OR HISTORY OF ANY
ACTUAL PERSONS LIVING OR DEAD IS ENTIRELY A COINCIDENCE AND
UNINTENTIONAL.
THIS MOTION PICTURE IS PROTECTED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND ITS UNAUTHORISED DUPLICATION OR EXHIBITION
MAY RESULT IN CIVIL LIABILITY AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
A WARP X/ROOK FILMS PRODUCTION FOR
FILM4, UK FILM COUNCIL AND SCREEN YORKSHIRE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
NONSTOP ENTERTAINMENT AB AND MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT
MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE UK FILM COUNCIL’S NEW CINEMA FUND
MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SCREEN YORKSHIRE PRODUCTION FUND
DEVELOPED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FILM4
THE LOW BUDGET FEATURE FILM SCHEME IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE UK FILM
COUNCIL, FILM4, SCREEN YORKSHIRE AND OPTIMUM RELEASING
© CHANNEL FOUR TELEVISION/UK FILM COUNCIL/WARPX/ROOK FILMS 2011