A perhaps necessary reminder in the wake of “The Shape of Water” that sea creatures, as a rule, should probably not be looked at as romantic partners, “Sweetheart” complicates — and elevates — a survival story by pitting a desperate young woman against a primordial beast determined to make her its dinner.
Director and co-writer J.D. Dillard (“Sleight”) delivers a smart, streamlined thriller that skillfully integrates a careful whisper of social commentary into a story that also unfolds masterfully as a straightforward genre workout.
Kiersey Clemons (“Hearts Beat Loud”) plays Jenn, a young coed who washes up on the beach of a tiny, idyllic island alongside another ailing passenger from the boat she, her boyfriend Lucas (Emory Cohen), and a group of college kids took out for vacation. While she’s exploring the island for food, supplies and other survivors, her companion dies, and she buries his body in the sand on...
Director and co-writer J.D. Dillard (“Sleight”) delivers a smart, streamlined thriller that skillfully integrates a careful whisper of social commentary into a story that also unfolds masterfully as a straightforward genre workout.
Kiersey Clemons (“Hearts Beat Loud”) plays Jenn, a young coed who washes up on the beach of a tiny, idyllic island alongside another ailing passenger from the boat she, her boyfriend Lucas (Emory Cohen), and a group of college kids took out for vacation. While she’s exploring the island for food, supplies and other survivors, her companion dies, and she buries his body in the sand on...
- 10/22/2019
- by Todd GIlchrist
- The Wrap
After making waves at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the Blumhouse project “Sweetheart” is set to hit digital and on demand platforms.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will offer the film on all major streaming hubs and paid video on demand come Oct. 22, unleashing the creature feature which stars Kiersey Clemons in a harrowing tale of survival.
Up-and-comer Jd Dillard directs and co-writes on the project, which sees Clemons stranded on an idyllic remote island after her small boat sinks. As if basic survival wasn’t taxing enough on the young woman in the daylight, the island turns into a dangerous stalking ground at night when a mysterious predator steps out of the water in search of prey.
The film screens Thursday evening at Austin’s Fantastic Fest, where Dillard will be present. Jason Blum, Alex Theurer, Alex Hyner and Bill Karesh are executive producers on the project. The film co-stars Emory Cohen,...
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will offer the film on all major streaming hubs and paid video on demand come Oct. 22, unleashing the creature feature which stars Kiersey Clemons in a harrowing tale of survival.
Up-and-comer Jd Dillard directs and co-writes on the project, which sees Clemons stranded on an idyllic remote island after her small boat sinks. As if basic survival wasn’t taxing enough on the young woman in the daylight, the island turns into a dangerous stalking ground at night when a mysterious predator steps out of the water in search of prey.
The film screens Thursday evening at Austin’s Fantastic Fest, where Dillard will be present. Jason Blum, Alex Theurer, Alex Hyner and Bill Karesh are executive producers on the project. The film co-stars Emory Cohen,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Stripped-down creature feature “Sweetheart” stars Kiersey Clemons as a shipwreck survivor on an uninhabited island that unfortunately turns out to have one frequent, unfriendly, nonhuman visitor. The sparing glimpses of the scaly whatsis and near-complete lack of dialogue (to a point) make this a reasonably offbeat wade into a familiar Black Lagoon. But despite decent suspense, “Sleight” director J.D. Dillard’s good-looking second feature is a chiller that’s not quite original or stylish enough to be memorable.
Clemons’ Jenn washes onto her isle barely conscious, though in better shape than a fellow passenger (Benedict Samuel) on her storm-downed pleasure cruise, who quickly expires. The situation is dire, but the heroine proves resourceful, quickly figuring out how to spear-fish and make a fire. She also finds signs of prior habitation: A campsite whose vacationers oddly left their gear behind — and more disturbingly, an apparent group gravesite.
The first sign that...
Clemons’ Jenn washes onto her isle barely conscious, though in better shape than a fellow passenger (Benedict Samuel) on her storm-downed pleasure cruise, who quickly expires. The situation is dire, but the heroine proves resourceful, quickly figuring out how to spear-fish and make a fire. She also finds signs of prior habitation: A campsite whose vacationers oddly left their gear behind — and more disturbingly, an apparent group gravesite.
The first sign that...
- 2/12/2019
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
The only J.D. Dillard related news to drop in 2018 was that he co-wrote Joe Sill’s directorial debut project Stray. Another tight-lipped Blumhouse production that has been in the can since 2017, we’ve been without updates for more than a year. Dillard broke big with Sleight at Sundance in 2016 and production on his sophomore project took place way back in June of 2017. Sweetheart stars Kiersey Clemons, Emory Cohen and Hanna Mangan Lawrence.
Gist: Unknown.
Production Co./Producers: Jason Blum, Alex Hyner, Bill Karesh, Alex Theurer.
Prediction: Midnight section or Premieres.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. Tbd (domestic).…...
Gist: Unknown.
Production Co./Producers: Jason Blum, Alex Hyner, Bill Karesh, Alex Theurer.
Prediction: Midnight section or Premieres.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. Tbd (domestic).…...
- 11/23/2018
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: Hanna Mangan Lawrence and Benedict Samuel have been cast in Blumhouse’s upcoming survival horror film Sweetheart, from Sleight director J.D. Dillard. The two will co-star with Dope actress Kiersey Clemons and Emory Cohen (Brooklyn) in the film, which Dillard co-wrote with Alex Theurer and Alex Hyner. Jason Blum, Bill Karesh, Dillard, Theurer, and Hyner are producing the pic, which is said to begin production this month. Plot details are being kept under…...
- 5/9/2017
- Deadline
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