Academy Award-winning sound designer Richard L. Anderson, celebrated for his iconic work on classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Poltergeist, is stepping into the director’s chair for his original creature feature, Wekiwa, Deadline reports.
The upcoming horror film has added Billy Zane (Demon Knight, Titanic), Kevin Chapman (Person of Interest), and C.S. Lee (Dexter). Production prepares to kick off near Orlando next month.
A Retro Nightmare in the Florida Swamps
Set during the summer of 1983, Wekiwa follows a desperate man who has poured his entire fortune into a Florida island resort. However, the location carries a dark history. The Seminole people have issued warnings about it for three hundred years. In a bid to save the enterprise, a British documentary director, played by Billy Zane, arrives with four young actors. Meanwhile, a marine biologist steps onto the island to investigate troubling anomalies in the surrounding lagoon. Residents refuse to speak about the sinister presence in the water. Soon, the newcomers quickly realize they are trapped in a fight for survival.
Classic Creature Feature Vibes with a Stellar Cast
The premise echoes the atmospheric dread of monster classics like Creature from the Black Lagoon. The title itself stems from the Creek word for “spring,” potentially referencing the Wekiwa River, Florida’s longest river. Alex Trumble stars as the showman risking it all, joined by a supporting cast that includes Oliver Wyman, Ty Neckar, Tyler Steelman, and newcomers Xhaania Wright and Caroline Jane West.
Mastering Horror
With decades of experience crafting terrifying soundscapes, Anderson brings a unique artistic perspective to the film. Producers Salomé Breziner and Scott Rosenfelt shared their excitement for the project, noting their goal of creating a movie that leaves audiences grinning while simultaneously harboring a newfound fear of the water. They emphasized that they spent forty years teaching moviegoers to believe in things they had heard before they were ever seen.
“We wanted the kind of film that sends an audience out grinning and a little afraid of the water,” said producers Salomé Breziner and Scott Rosenfelt. “Richard has spent forty years teaching audiences to believe in things they hear before they ever see them. That instinct is all over this film.”
