TIFF06: Sheeps on a Plain Shorn in Toronto?

Updated 2x (reviews, video)

— posted by Sheigh

While we were all breathlessly reporting the viral gyrations of Snakes on a Plane before it opened -- the best new B movie any of us we were likely to see this summer -- the movie that we laughed about among ourselves in the newsroom was (then in production) Black Sheep.

When the SOaP hype reached fever pitch, one of us would inevitably hold up a small red and black poster with a deranged sheep on it, and stage whisper: "There are 40 million sheep in New Zealand... and they're pissed off!"

So it is with no small amount of glee that we pass along David Poland's MCN hotblog rumor that Kiwi director Jonathan King's "Black Sheep" is looking like a hot sale at TIFF. Poland is guessing that Fox Atomic, now rich in cash from its "Little Miss Sunshine" success, is the most logical buyer. The movie's "gag is broad" and "people love farm animals," Poland surmises. And let's face it, the critter reversal holds much more appeal than SOaP's trapped slitherers. Snakes stay true to their nature — they just want to get off the mutherf*ckin' plane. These genetically altered sheep, on the other hand, turn into blood thirsty maiming mutton looking to terrorize a small pastoral town.

Peter Jackson's WETA Workshop provided the film's animatronic puppets and practical effects. Bloody-disgusting.com has a few good Black Sheep stills.

Update: Twitch has posted two Black Sheep film reviews out of Toronto.

Todd writes: "It can be surprisingly difficult to make an intentional cult film but King has done it here. The script is smart enough, striking the right balance between self aware cleverness and balls out gore, the effects strong enough, and all involved clearly big enough fans of the genre that everything comes together to capture just the right mood and tone. Very fun stuff."

Mack writes: "Black Sheep is flat out fantastic fun! It is a healthy balance of humor and horror, never shying on either, with a splash of bestiality."

Black Sheep clip: film footage, filmmakers

Comments

[T. H. Ung]

Is this revenge of the sheep for the way hordes of extras of them were treated in BBM? It could have been worse for them. There was just that little bit of dragging by the hind legs and nipping at the heels by dogs.

[Alex]

Some great movie reviews of Black Sheep at Twitics Movie Reviews: http://www.twiticsmoviereviews.com/69754/Black%20Sheep.html