With major studios turning out big-budget flops its refreshing to see a microbudget indie film succeed. The new horror comedy The Weed Eaters is heading to the Letterboxd Video Store’s Unreleased Gem shelf. It is directed by Callum Devlin (The Beths: Auckland, New Zealand, 2020), from a script by Finnius Teppett (Homebound 3.0).
Jules (Alice May Connolly) is on a New Year’s Eve trip with her new boyfriend and his two stoner friends in rural New Zealand when they stumble upon a long-forgotten stash of ancient cannabis in an old shed. One smoke session and one accidental murder later, they realize the marijuana has given them a serious case of the munchies—more specifically, an overwhelming taste for human flesh. Rather than resist their new cravings, these fine young cannibals embark in increasingly lofty spirits on a bloodthirsty rampage through the surrounding countryside.
Letterboxd’s synopsis reads.
The film was shot in and around New Zealand by a small Aotearoa-based crew on a budget of $20,000. It premiered last year at the New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF). Before going on to win best feature at SXSW Sydney. So this crowd-favourite feature is definitely generating some serious buzz.
The Weed Eaters’ budget and location are already drawing comparisons to Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste and Jonathan King’s Black Sheep. And from the trailer, it looks pretty over-the-top too. Just maybe not as out there as the aforementioned films, but let’s face it, aliens and killer sheep are hard to beat in terms of zaniness. However, all of these movies stand as a testament to how a small budget, backed by a lot of talent, can go a long way.
The Weed Eaters will be available to rent from August 26 to September 25. You can check out the trailer below:
