‘Retreat’ – Production is Underway on World’s First Deaf Thriller

Filming is now underway on writer/director Ted Evans’ debut thriller Retreat, the world’s first deaf thriller starring an all-deaf principal cast, Variety reports today.

The film stars Anne Zander, James Boyle, and Sophie Stone, with Ace Mahbaz and Anna Seymore rounding out the cast. 

Retreat is set “in an isolated deaf community, where cracks begin to appear in Matt’s (Boyle) seemingly idyllic world when the arrival of enigmatic outsider Eva (Zander) forces him to question the realities of his identity. Is Matt prepared to discover what lies beneath the surface of his supposedly utopian community and the costs demanded to maintain it?”

XYZ Films will be introducing the film to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market.

“XYZ is beyond thrilled to be working with Ted Evans on his debut feature,” Todd Brown, head of international acquisitions at XYZ, told Variety. “We immediately fell in love with this unique and compelling world from the first page of the script. Imagine Karyn Kusama’s ‘The Invitation’ blended with ‘CODA,’ and you have the world of Evans’ ‘Retreat.‘ It is tense and striking, and there’s never been anything quite like it.”

It may be worth noting the distinction: Retreat is touted as the world’s first deaf thriller. However, it’s not the first horror movie. Look to 1975’s Deafula for what may be the very first horror film to be shot entirely in American Sign Language (ASL). Host and The Boogeyman director Rob Savage also broke out in 2016 with the charming zombie short “Dawn of the Deaf.” Here’s to hoping that Retreat inspires even more.

Retreat is produced by The Fold and 104 Films, Michelle Stein (“Sky Peals”), Jennifer Monks, and Alex Usborne (“Notes on Blindness”), with financing provided by BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), BBC Film and West Midlands Production Fund. Claudia Yusef for BBC Film, Louise Ortega for BFI, and Paul Ashton for Creative UK are executive producing.