It's been a while since we've received a new classic from director Renny Harlin (and admittedly, I haven't seen his last few movies), but when someone already has credits like A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Deep Blue Sea to their name, they've earned enough good will to last forever. So I'm interested to hear that Harlin is returning to horror with his next film, The Refuge.
Scripted by Ben Sztajnkrycer, The Refuge will follow
Sergeant Rick Pedroni, who comes home to his wife Kate changed and dangerous after suffering an attack by a mysterious force during combat in Afghanistan. Officials say her husband suffered a heavy brain injury, but Kate knows it is more than PTSD. As Rick undergoes unsettling therapy with other traumatized soldiers, Kate discovers he has been possessed by a malevolent spirit.
Filming is scheduled to begin in April in Bulgaria. Casting is currently underway.
Harlin is producing The Refuge with Yariv Lerner, Rob Van Norden, Gary Lucchesi, and Michael McKay. Delphine Perrier, Arianne Fraser, and Kelly Mendelsohn serve as executive producers. The project is a Revelations Entertainment and B2Y production. Highland Film Group is handling worldwide rights and presenting The Refuge to potential buyers at the European Film Market.
Harlin released the following statement:
I love making horror films because of the visual opportunities and character studies they offer. The Refuge is a terrifying journey into the deepest corners of the human spirit. It’s not just a regular horror film about a haunted house or a merciless killer. It’s an examination of what can happen when an evil, demonic spirit possesses an innocent mind."
We'll keep you updated on The Refuge as it continues to move forward. Here's hoping it will be closer in quality to the films mentioned above than to Harlin's own Exorcist: The Beginning.