Black Sheep

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

A genetic engineering experiment gone horribly awry turns a large flock of docile sheep into unrelenting killing machines in this rural horror comedy directed by Jonathan King and featuring special effects designed by Weta Workshop. When the death of his father and a stress-induced fear of sheep pushes him toward the edge of a nervous breakdown, skilled farmer Henry Oldfield leaves the family farm behind in a desperate bid to achieve inner peace. Upon returning to the farm following a 15-year absence, Henry discovers that his brother Angus has been performing genetic experiments on the sheep. Unfortunately for both the brothers and the rest of the humble farmers who make their living off of the land, these experiments have produced a strain of sheep that crave human flesh and will stop at nothing to satisfy their diabolical hunger. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Features:
  • Deleted scenes with optional commentary
  • Blooper reel
  • Early Morning (surprise scene shot exclusively for DVD)
  • Commentary by writer/director Johnathan King & actor Nathan Meister

AWARDS

• San Francisco International Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2007

• SXSW

•     Film Presented - 2007

• Toronto International Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2006

• Tribeca Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2007

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Nathan Meister - Henry Oldfield
       Peter Feeney - Angus Oldfield
       Danielle Mason - Experience
       Tammy Davis - Tucker
       Glenis Levestam - Mrs. Mac
       Oliver Driver - Grant
       Tandi Wright
       Matthew Chamberlain
       Jono Manks
       Kevin McTurk
       Mickey Rose

• Director:

  Jonathan King

• Producer:

  Philippa Campbell

• Screenwriter:

  Jonathan King

• Cinematographer:

  Richard Bluck

• Composer (Music Score):

  Victoria Kelly

• Editor:

  Chris Plummer

• Production Designer:

  Kim Sinclair

• Art Director:

  Simon Bright

• Costume Designer:

  Pauline Bowkett

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Tim Prebble

• Special Effects:

  Weta Workshop Ltd.

• First Assistant Director:

  Joe Nolan

• Casting:

  Liz Mullane

• Line Producer:

  Judith Trye

• Stunts Coordinator:

  Augie Davis

• Special Effects Supervisor:

  Richard Taylor

• Makeup Special Effects:

  Weta Workshop Ltd.

• Creature Effects:

  Weta Workshop Ltd.

REVIEW:

• In the tradition of the classic "chicken or the egg" debate, one wonders what came first: the title for Black Sheep, or the story? It hardly matters, because this film's New Zealand production team got it right, correctly gauging the humor value of watching these normally harmless creatures tear the flesh of their human keepers. Black Sheep is certainly more comedy than horror -- think the scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where the bunny slaughters King Arthur's knights -- but it's got gruesome enough visual effects to please the Troma crowd as well. What keeps it from becoming a classic horror comedy is that it doesn't quite build on the central concept. Black Sheep is one of those rare films whose appeal is instantly communicated through a one-sentence description, prompting laughter from most of those who hear it. The challenge, then, is to take the movie places that the concept alone can't, and Black Sheep doesn't quite do that. Still, there's much to recommend in a film that also functions as a parody of/homage to zombie and vampire movies, featuring bitten victims who slowly transform into human-sheep hybrids. The fact that the lamb rampage results from a particularly brutal form of animal testing means it's also likely to win fans among People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. At the same time, Jonathan King's film is layered enough to skewer those same people, as a lab sample stolen by self-important guerrilla activists is responsible for the initial outbreak of mayhem. By always keeping its tone light, Black Sheep is never less than a pleasing diversion. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi