LIONSGATE UK UNLEASHES “HEARTLESS” ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS ON MAY 24, 2010
London, Thursday 28th January, 2010. Philip Ridley’s menacing HEARTLESS, which premiered at 2009’s Film4 Fright Fest to a sell out audience will receive a ground breaking multi platform release, allowing consumers to experience the film in the format of their choice – in cinema, on DVD and Blu-ray, Video on Demand, Rental and Electronic Sell Through simultaneously on May 24th, 2010 after being available in cinemas from Friday 21st May 2010.
As part of this innovative release strategy Lionsgate UK has received Lottery funding from the UK Film Council‘s Digital Innovation in Distribution strand. With this grant Lionsgate UK are planning a groundbreaking interactive campaign with Facebook that will allow greater synergy between fans, social media and the film’s official website through advertising, competitions and user generated content.
The central theme to this activity is in keeping with the tone of the movie – demons and the dark side to urban life. Facebook users and film fans will be asked to capture their own versions of the demons within their city through photography and/or artwork and upload them to the official website or the Facebook fan page with an incentive to win. Fans of the film will be able to view and vote on their favourite content on both sites, as well as having the cast and crew involved in the judging process. The advertising strand to this campaign takes the form of a highly engaging “voting ad” which will allow the user to engage with the themes of the film and click through to further unique content on both the fan page and official website.
Jim Sturgess, Clémence Poésy, Noel Clarke, Joseph Mawle, Eddie Marsan, Luke Treadaway and Timothy Spall lead a talented ensemble cast in the dark psychological horror HEARTLESS, written and directed by British auteur Philip Ridley (The Reflecting Skin, The Passion of Darkly Noon.)
The story follows Jamie, a troubled young man with a birthmark on his face, which has left him feeling isolated and fearful, hiding from the world outside. He lives in the East End of London, an area notorious for its violent hooded gangs. According to news reports, the gangs are now wearing demon masks. But, one night, Jamie discovers the terrifying truth: the gangs are not wearing masks. They are real demons. And when Jamie’s mother is killed by them in a brutal attack, he realizes he can no longer hide away. Jamie vows vengeance and turns vigilante. But the world outside is more of a nightmare than he ever imagined. As Jamie himself says: “I open up the window and madness flies in.”
Jim Sturgess (‘21’, ‘Across the Universe’, ‘50 Dead Men Walking’, ‘The Way Back’) stars as Jamie, Clémence Poésy (‘In Bruges’, ‘Harry Potter’) is Tia who finds a connection with Jamie, Noel Clarke (‘4.3.2.1’, ‘Adulthood’, ‘Doctor Who’) plays Jamie’s friend A.J., a young man with a troubled history of gang violence, rising star Joseph Mawle (‘Freefall’, ‘The Passion’) is the iconic Papa B, two-time BIFA winner Eddie Marsan (‘Happy Go Lucky’, ‘21 Grams’) stars as the Weapons Man, Timothy Spall (Tim Burton’s ‘Sweeney Todd’, ‘Secrets and Lies’) makes a moving appearance as Jamie’s father George, with Ruth Sheen (‘Vera Drake’) as Jamie’s mother, Marion. Rising star Luke Treadaway (‘Brothers of the Head’ and the forthcoming ‘Clash of the Titans’) plays Jamie’s devious nephew Lee, with newcomers Jack Gordon (‘Fishtank’) as Jeeko, and nine year old Nikita Mistry, who makes her debut as the devious spirit Belle.
The featured cast also includes Justin Salinger (‘Enduring Love’) as Jamie’s brother Raymond, Fraser Ayres (‘Adulthood’) as Vinnie the shopkeeper, and newcomer John MacMillan (‘Hustle’) as She, the notorious leader of a local gang.
The film is produced by Richard Raymond and Pippa Cross (‘Shooting Dogs’, ‘The Hole’) with Steve Christian, Marc Samuelson, Steve Norris, Nigel Thomas and Charlotte Walls serving as executive producers, Andrew Fingret serves as co-producer and Alexander O’Neal as line producer.
The behind-the-camera talent includes director of photography Matt Gray (‘The Firm’, ‘Mark of Cain’), production designer Ricky Eyres (‘Soloman Kane’), editors Chris Gill (‘Sunshine’) and Paul Knight (‘The Other Boyeln Girl’), hair and make-up designer Jacqueline Fowler (‘The Descent’, ‘Hunger’,) special effects make-up designer Paul Hyett (‘Doomsday’, ‘Eden Lake’) costume designer Jo Thompson (‘This Is England’), music composer David Julyan (‘The Prestige’, ‘Memento’), songs by Nick Bicat (‘Passion of Darkly Noon’), music supervisors Marc Marot and Claire Freeman (‘Me and Orson Welles’), visual effects supervisor Christian Manz (‘Primeval’), sound designer Srdjan Kurpjel (‘Tormented’, ‘Creation’) and casting directors Jeremy Zimmerman and Manuel Puro (‘Hellboy’, ‘Moon’).
HEARTLESS will be available in UK cinemas on Friday 21st May and on DVD, Blu-ray and all other formats on Monday 24th May.
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