Rabbit. (Photo: Ben Baker)
The first image from the upcoming Aussie thriller Rabbit, which just finished shooting in Adelaide, has been released.
Exploring the link between identical twins and their ability to communicate telepathically, Rabbit is writer-director Luke Shanahan’s debut feature. The shoot just wrapped in Adelaide after six weeks on location.
“I’ve always been intrigued by sibling rivalry and, in particular, the unique relationship between twins. I was interested in exploring how two characters, sharing 99 percent of the same DNA, deal with the most extreme situations,” said Shanahan.
The cast includes Adelaide Clemens (The Great Gatsby, Rectify), Alex Russell (Chronicle, Goldstone) and Belgian actress Veerle Baetens, who starred in the Oscar nominated The Broken Circle Breakdown, which won her the European Film Award for Best Actress.
Clemens plays identical twins Maude and Cleo Ashton. Almost a year after Cleo’s disappearance, Maude is still haunted by visions of her sister’s violent abduction. Convinced she is still alive, Maude follows the clues to a derelict caravan park where she discovers her fate is intrinsically linked to that of her twin.
Prior to Rabbit, Shanahan directed several shorts, including the comedy It Takes Two To Tango, as well as commercials and music videos.
He first met Rabbit’s producer David Ngo at Tropfest seven years ago, and they have since formed the production company Longshot together.
Rabbit was the winning pitch at the MIFF 37ºSouth Market in 2015, with Ngo then selected to attend London’s Production Finance Market.
Winning that award showed that the story was a standout, Ngo said.
“What Luke is creating is something truly original. The film is an intense ride into the world of twins and telepathy, that shows just how far we’ll go to save the person we love. Luke was after a particular visual style but we didn't expect a 150 year storm, floods and blackouts – it's given the film an amazing look," said Ngo.
Rabbit is financed with the support of the South Australian Film Corporation, LevelK (handling international sales) and Vendetta Films.