Talia Ryder joins Michael Shannon in psychological horror film 'Doctor Caligari's Cabinet of Wonders'
Washington DC, August 6
Actor Talia Ryder has joined Michael Shannon in 'Doctor Caligari's Cabinet of Wonders', an upcoming contemporary reimagining of the iconic horror classic 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari', according to Variety.
Written and directed by John Erick Dowdle, the psychological horror film recently wrapped production in Germany. Shannon stars as the titular Doctor Caligari, a travelling mesmerist who journeys from town to town with a sleepwalker under his control, leaving a trail of grisly murders in their wake.
The story follows a young woman who becomes convinced that the mysterious Doctor Caligari is responsible for her boyfriend's disappearance. However, no one believes her suspicions.
Ryder, best known for her breakout performance in 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', will play Jane, an intuitive young woman whose ability to perceive what others cannot has made her an outcast. Haunted by her sister's murder and her parents' betrayal, Jane discovers that what she once considered her greatest burden may also be her greatest strength, as per the outlet.
The film is produced by Drew Dowdle for Brothers Dowdle Productions, alongside Sebastien Raybaud and Brandt Wrightsman for Anton, Stuart Manashil, and Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo for augenschein. It received support from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).
Anton is fully financing the project and will handle worldwide rights at the Toronto International Film Festival market, while CAA Media Finance will co-represent North American rights with Anton.
Ryder is currently filming the second season of Prime Video's 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' opposite Mark Eydelshteyn. She most recently appeared in Ethan Coen's 'Honey Don't' alongside Margaret Qualley and will next be seen in Frankie Shaw's '4 Kids Walk Into A Bank' with Liam Neeson, as well as Rob Burnett's 'In Memoriam', co-starring Marc Maron, Lily Gladstone and Sharon Stone. 'In Memoriam' is set to premiere at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, as reported by Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally a horror film with a strong female lead who is not just running and screaming. Jane's story about being an outcast because she sees things differently resonates deeply with so many of us. In India too, we often dismiss people who sense things beyond the obvious. Can't wait to watch this one!
Michael Shannon in a psychological horror - count me in! The man has that intense screen presence that just draws you in. While India has its own rich horror traditions with regional folklore, I enjoy seeing how Western filmmakers reinterpret their classics. This looks promising.
The premise feels familiar - woman suspects the villain but nobody believes her. We see this trope a lot in our own Hindi thrillers too. But the German Expressionist roots and the doctor-sleepwalker angle could make it more psychological and less jump-scare dependent. Also, good to see DFFF funding international projects - global cinema collaboration is great for the industry. 🎥
I loved Talia Ryder in 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' - she brought such raw emotion to that role. This character of Jane with her "curse" becoming her strength reminds me of how we often hide our unique abilities due to societal pressure. Glad she is getting more substantial roles. Will definitely watch this when it releases.
As someone who studied film, the original 1920 Caligari is a masterpiece of atmosphere and visual storytelling. Reshooting it as a contemporary story is risky, but John Erick Dowdle knows how to build tension (he made 'Quarantine' and 'As Above, So Below'). The supporting cast with
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