Following his directorial debut, “District 9” (2009), the sky was the limit for South African-Canadian director Neil Blomkamp. “District 9” nabbed four Oscar nods that year, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and made Blomkamp a sci-fi wunderkind overnight. However, since that auspicious beginning, it’s been a patchy ride—ambitious but mixed efforts like “Elysium” (2013), “Chappie” (2015). Additionally, stalled attempts at making new entries into the “Alien” and “Robocop” franchise ensured he remained out of the filmic consciousness.
READ MORE: ‘Demonic’ Trailer: Neill Blomkamp Returns With A Terrifying Supernatural Horror Project
Now, for the first time in almost seven years, Blomkamp is back with an all-new film. So, “Demonic” finds Blomkamp taking a crack at supernatural horror. And despite the darker, drearier tone, the movie looks as heady and visually potent as his earlier ones.
READ MORE: Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Demonic’ First Look: Watch Behind-The-Scenes 8MM footage & More
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
A young woman unleashes terrifying demons when supernatural forces at the root of a decades-old rift between mother and daughter are ruthlessly revealed in this horror-thriller from director Neill Blomkamp.
READ MORE: Taylor Kitsch To Star In Neill Blomkamp’s Upcoming Horror-Thriller ‘Inferno’
The film cast includes several Canadian actors who have worked with Blomkamp before. Carly Pope, Nathalie Boltt, and Terry Chen all had roles in “Elysium.” Chris William Martin and Michael Rogers, best known for their roles in “The Age Of Adaline” and “The Blacklist,” respectively, round out the main cast.
READ MORE: Neill Blomkamp Directed A Secret Supernatural Horror Film In Canada During The Pandemic
The film leans heavily into Blomkamp’s interest in VFX and uses a patent-pending new volumetric capture method. In layman’s terms, that’s a 3D video technology that turns actors into geometric objects. “Demonic” boasts the most volumetric capture ever seen in a feature film. Good thing Blomkamp’s long-time editor Julian Clarke is back to edit this film, too.
How will audiences take to Neill Blomkamp’s leap into a new genre? Find out on August 20th, when “Demonic” hits theaters from IFC Midnight, or wait a week for August 27th, when the film releases digitally on demand. Check out the trailer below.