The makers of recent Australian horror feature Throwback have launched a Kickstarter campaign for their new feature Starspawn. The sci-fi/horror thriller from Queensland writer/producer/director Travis Bain is about a TV current affairs journalist who uncovers evidence of an imminent alien invasion whilst on assignment to interview some Outback survivalists. The 40-day crowdfunding campaign is aimed at raising $30,000 to allow the filmmakers to commission alien puppets and costumes and shoot a proof-of-concept excerpt from the full feature in Northwestern Queensland. Vernon Wells from Mad Max 2, Commando and Bain’s previous feature Throwback has signed on to play a key role, and other name actors are said to be “circling” the project.
Cairns-based filmmaker Travis Bain says he drew inspiration for Starspawn from the films of John Carpenter and the works of cult horror author H.P. Lovecraft.
“I’ve been a huge Lovecraft fan since I was a teenager in the ’80s,” Bain says, “but I’ve always found it hard to find satisfying film versions adapted from—or inspired by—his mythos, so I decided to try to make one myself. Starspawn will be a film made by Lovecraft fans for Lovecraft fans, and we’re hoping to put some of his most iconic monsters on screen in a way they’ve never been seen before, using old-school practical effects.”
Bain adds that the campaign has a stretch goal of $100,000, which, if reached, will allow him and his team to produce the entire feature rather than just a proof-of-concept excerpt.
Bain’s previous feature Throwback was released on DVD in Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Turkey earlier this year and is due for DVD release in the US on July 21st. A third and final trailer for the film has been unveiled to support the US release.
The Starspawn Kickstarter campaign will conclude on 19 July 2015. For more information, please visit the Starspawn Kickstarter Page.
