EXCLUSIVE: Principal photography on Ian McDonald’s Sundowning, the latest production from horror-focused banner Spooky Pictures, is underway in Vancouver and Deadline can reveal the cast.

Elizabeth Dulau (Andor), Susanne Wuest (Industry) Rukiya Bernard (Yellowjackets) and Robbie G.K. (Heated Rivalry) have signed up to star in the psychological thriller.

It the second feature in the director’s seat for McDonald, who previously took writing credits on Anna Kendrick’s serial killer drama Woman of the Hour and directed the unconventional 2016 teen romance Some Freaks.

His new film follows a young musician with gerontophobia, whose irrational fear of ageing and death sees her neglect her dying parents. She seeks redemption by taking a position at a secluded end of life facility, but what begins as an act of penance soon unsettles her as she discovers the idyllic sanctuary hides a terrifying secret.

Sundowning is the latest production to come down the pipeline from Spooky Pictures and Abu Dhabi-based studio Image Nation’s multi-year partnership.

Steven Schneider (The Long Walk), Roy Lee (Barbarian)and Simmy Wolf (Thunderbolts) produce for Spooky Pictures. Producing for Hadron Films (Breeder, Still/Born, Z) is Chris Wilkinson and Ryan Marchant, with Ellie Cameron-Smith as Line Producer. Spooky Pictures’ Rami Yasin (Hokum) and Image Nation’s Ben Ross (Watcher, Late Night with the Devil) serve as Executive Producers.

“Ian brings a remarkable track record in crafting character driven thrillers which tackle social and institutional structures in a haunting yet insightful way,” said said Spooky Pictures co-founder Schneider.

“We can’t wait to see his latest creation Sundowning realized and to have such a stellar cast, including Elizabeth, Susanne, Rukiya and Robbie, bring this chilling story of redemption and the darker realities of the care system to life for global audiences.”

Image Nation’s CEO Ben Ross added: “As we continue deepening our slate of boundary-pushing, elevated projects, Sundowning is exactly the type of bold and globally resonant storytelling we’re drawn to. It offers a fresh take on an emotionally driven horror, through its sinister plot that is carefully layered with explorations of guilt, mortality and loss – all brought to life by Ian’s sharp creative voice.”  

Woman of the Hour, which was financed by AGC Studios with Vertigo Entertainment and Boulderlight Films producing, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and sold to Netflix in a bidding war. McDonald Ian is now also writing an Untitled Cult Thriller for Netflix and producers Andrea Berloff and John Gatins.

Dulau is best known for her starring role as Kleya in Tony Gilroy’s Emmy nominated show Andor for Disney+. Her other screen credits include Steven Knight’s House of Guinness on Netflix; All the Light We Cannot See for director Shawn Levy and Netflix, and Universal Pictures’ film version of the hit musical Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.

Wuest gained international recognition with Antares, Austria’s Academy Awards submission. She is best known for the critically acclaimed cult movie Goodnight Mommy, which was also an Academy Awards entry from Austria. Most recently, she starred in the Cannes winning The Sound of Falling (Mubi) and HBO’s Industry. She can next be seen in Lionsgate’s Orphan 3. 

Bernard is best known for her three seasons on Showtime’s Yellowjackets and Fox’s Chicken Sisters. She will next be seen in the hit AMC series The Audacity.

Robbie G.K. arrives on the production fresh from hit show Heated Rivalry, with previous credits also including Utopia Falls.

McDonald is represented by CAA and Entertainment 360; Dulau, by Anonymous Content, The Artists Partnership and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein; Susanne Wuest, by The Artists Partnership, Henneman and Thruline Ent; Bernard, by D2Management and RED Management; and Robbie G.K. by Amplified Mgmt and The Talent House.