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“The goal is to have you sit back, relax and have one hell of a good time. Mission accomplished.” Unfortunately this reviewers comment isn't about Jonathan King's Under the Mountain, but rather Jonathan King's earlier venture Black Sheep. It's a shame it doesn't apply. King has proven himself in the past as a director with the ability to engage and entertain, however I just don't think children's fantasy is his forte. Even if it is from New Zealand.

Under the Mountain has a rich history behind it, as it's based on the popular novel by Maurice Gee and the children's series that ran on Nz's Kiwi TV under the same name starting back in 1981. For audiences familiar with the series (mainly those living in New Zealand), Under the Mountain may prove a nostalgic adventure, but for new audiences (mainly everyone else), it leaves us with way more questions than we started out with.

The director of the splattery good gore-fest Black Sheep (review here), Jonathan King, has a new flick coming out from Lionsgate and Lightning Media called Under the Mountain, and though it's been given a PG-13 rating, we're still confident enough in King's filmmaking chops to insist that this one is worth a look!

Look for the flick to hit DVD courtesy of Lionsgate on August 10th. Sam Neill, Sophie McBride, Tom Cameron, Leon Wadham, and Oliver Driver star.

Synopsis

When teenage twins Rachel and Theo investigate the creepy old house next door, they discover the Wilberforces - shape-shifting creatures that lurk beneath Auckland’s ring of extinct volcanoes.

Guided by the mysterious Mr. Jones and with the help of their older cousin, Ricky, the twins must rekindle the unique powers they once shared if they are to destroy this ancient evil - before it destroys them.

Under the Mountain - Festival Trailer

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The director of the splattery good gore-fest Black Sheep (review here), Jonathan King, has a new flick coming out from Lionsgate and Lightning Media called Under the Mountain, and though it's been given a PG-13 rating, we're still confident enough in King's filmmaking chops to insist that this one is worth a look!

Though no firm release date has been given, look for the DVD to hit late this year or possibly early next. Sam Neill, Sophie McBride, Tom Cameron, Leon Wadham, and Oliver Driver star.

Synopsis

When teenage twins Rachel and Theo investigate the creepy old house next door, they discover the Wilberforces - shape-shifting creatures that lurk beneath Auckland’s ring of extinct volcanoes.

Guided by the mysterious Mr. Jones and with the help of their older cousin, Ricky, the twins must rekindle the unique powers they once shared if they are to destroy this ancient evil - before it destroys them.

Horror news site Bloody-Disgusting is announcing that Under the Mountain has been picked up by both Lightning Entertainment and Lionsgate Films for distribution in North America. The film involves two twins who discover "shape-shifting" creatures beneath a group of extinct volcanoes (Bloody). The trailer for the film, if you are unfamiliar, is below.

The synopsis for Under the Mountain here:

"Teenage twins Rachel and Theo investigate the creepy old house next door, they discover the Wilberforces - shape-shifting creatures that lurk beneath Auckland’s ring of extinct volcanoes. Guided by the mysterious Mr Jones and with the help of their older cousin Ricky, the twins must rekindle the unique powers they once shared if they are to destroy this ancient evil - before it destroys them" (Bloody).

Release Date: Unknown.

Director: Jonathan King.

Writers: Maurice Gee, and Matthew Grainger.

Cast: Tom Cameron, Matthew Chamberlain, Oliver Driver, Matt Gillanders, Sam Neill,...

Although the image is pretty small, if you click over to Twitch Film you can check out the first official image from Jonathan King's (Black Sheep) latest horror entry, Under The Mountain, which stars Sam Neill (first image here), Sophie McBride, Tom Cameron, Leon Wadham and Oliver Driver. When teenage twins Rachel and Theo investigate the creepy old house next door, they discover the Wilberforces - shape-shifting creatures that lurk beneath Aucklands ring of extinct volcanoes. Guided by the mysterious Mr Jones and with the help of their older cousin Ricky, the twins must rekindle the unique powers they once shared if they are to destroy this ancient evil - before it destroys them.