Principal photography has begun on The Tall Man, a mystery thriller written and directed by acclaimed French director Pascal Laugier (Martyrs, Saint Ange) and starring Jessica Biel (The A-Team, Valentine’s Day) in a leading role. A suspenseful thriller in the vein of M. Night Shyamalan’s earlier films, The Tall Man marks Laugier’s English language debut.
Produced by SND, Radar Films’ Clement Miserez (Faces in the Crowd) and Minds Eye Entertainment’s Kevin DeWalt (Faces in the Crowd), the film will shoot for eight weeks in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. The final wrap is set for November 18th.
“We are thrilled to be producers on this project and we are really looking forward to bringing this mystery to audiences worldwide,” said SND CEO Thierry Desmichelle. “Jessica Biel is a very gifted and versatile actor. Coupled with Pascal’s gripping script and innovative filmmaking, it’s the perfect recipe for quite a compelling story.”
Set in the town of Cold Rock, The Tall Man is a story of the haunting secrets that hide behind closed doors. With children gone missing over the years leaving neither a clue nor a witness, superstitious locals talk of ‘The Tall Man,’ a legendary, mysterious dark figure who takes children away never to be seen again. When a woman’s son is taken, the chase is on and with it the quest for answers: who is the Tall Man and what happens to the children?
Stephen McHattie, William B. Davis, Samantha Ferris and Jodelle Ferland, round up the cast. SND is handling international sales and will release the film in France.
Conceived as a ‘woman in jeopardy’ movie an outdoor ‘Panic Room,’ by Laugier, The Tall Man is clothed in the myths of bogeymen and monsters born of the folklore common to all cultures.
“It’s a story with a strong female character, a character you feel connected to,” said Laugier.
“We really believe in the story and all the talent involved in this project. Jessica Biel’s sensitivity and diverse performances are a perfect fit for the role,” adds Miserez.
Laugier’s next projects include the remake of his award-winning Martyrs (Grand Prize Winner European Fantasy Films in Gold and Silver, Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival) to be released in the US by 20th Century Fox. Biel’s upcoming roles include Vivaldi with Ben Kingsley and Nailed with Jack Gyllenhaal and directed by David O. Russell.
