I always enjoy seeing filmmaker Richard Rowntree's name show up in press releases, simply because it's so close to the name of Shaft himself, Richard Roundtree. I haven't seen either of the movies directed by Rowntree, but that might change in March. Gravitas Ventures has acquired the worldwide rights to Rowntree's second feature NEFARIOUS, and are planning to give the film a March 17, 2020 release.
NEFARIOUS is a
home invasion horror/thriller that focuses on a robbery which goes horribly wrong.
With a heavy emphasis on social commentary, particularly relating to economic disparity in the western world, the film features award winning practical effects and a clever script.
Rowntree wrote the script with Matthew Davies. The film stars Toby Wynn-Davies, Nadia Lamin, and Buck Braithwaite.
Our own Jake Dee wasn't too fond of NEFARIOUS and gave it a 5/10 review back in September, but he did say a good 25 minutes toward the end is a "sweet spot of abject carnage and inescapable violence".
Rowntree's first film was the folk horror story DOGGED, which is available on Amazon.