The Cottage (2008)

Director:

Paul Andrew Williams

Writer:

Paul Andrew Williams (written by)

Release Date:

14 March 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Sleeps six bloody comfortably.

Plot:

In a remote part of the countryside, a bungled kidnapping turns into a living nightmare for four central...

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Countryside | Deformed | Kidnapping | Gangster

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Andy Serkis	...	David
Reece Shearsmith	...	Peter
Jennifer Ellison	...	Tracey
Steven O'Donnell	...	Andrew
James Bierman	...	Bouncer
Cat Meacher	...	Club Receptionist
Danny Nussbaum	...	Man in Suit
Logan Wong	...	Muk Li San
Jonathan Chan-Pensley	...	Chun Yo Fu
Simon Schatzberger	...	Steven
Doug Bradley	...	Villager with Dog
Dave Legeno	...	The Farmer (as David Legeno)
Katy Murphy	...	Farmer's Wife
Georgia Groome	...	Farmer's Daughter 1
Eden Watson	...	Farmer's Daughter 2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johnny Harris	...	Smoking Joe (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Andrew Williams

Writing credits
Paul Andrew Williams		(written by)

Produced by
Steve Christian	....	executive producer
Victoria Goodall	....	line producer: additional photography unit
Hugo Heppell	....	executive producer
Ken Marshall	....	producer
Martin Pope	....	producer
Julia Valentine	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Laura Rossi

Cinematography by
Christopher Ross		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Hemmings

Casting by
Tania Polentarutti

Production Design by
Crispian Sallis

Art Direction by
Jo Newberry		(as Josephine Newberry)

Costume Design by
Marianne Agertoft

Makeup Department
Becky Cain	....	prosthetic technician
Stuart Conran	....	prosthetics supervisor
Carolyn Copperwheat	....	prosthetics trainee
Lizzie Dixon	....	prosthetic trainee
Jacqueline Fowler	....	hair designer
Jacqueline Fowler	....	makeup designer
Dan Frye	....	special makeup effects artist (as Daniel Frye)
Rod Hamlin	....	prosthetic technician
Paul Hyett	....	special makeup effects designer
Kristyan Mallett	....	prosthetic makeup effects artist
Nicola Mount	....	makeup trainee
Conal Palmer	....	prosthetic technician
Caroline Silk	....	makeup artist
Jenna Smith	....	makeup trainee
Kate Smith	....	makeup trainee

Production Management
Jim Edge	....	unit manager
Gisela Evert	....	post-production supervisor
Nina Sagemoen	....	production manager
Jack Suckling	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jamie D. Allen	....	first assistant director: additional photography unit
Grietje Besteman	....	first assistant director: additional photography unit (as Grietie Besteman)
Chris Chambers	....	assistant director trainee
Joe Geary	....	first assistant director
Julie Heskin	....	third assistant director
Kerinne Jenkins	....	assistant director trainee
Mark Volante	....	assistant director trainee
Tom White	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Sally Black	....	production buyer
Paul Bufton	....	props hand
Sarah Comish	....	production buyer
Steve Dawson	....	carpenter
Brian Eatough	....	carpenter
Rachael Fitzgerald	....	graphic designer
Derek Ixer	....	dressing props (as Derek 'Del' Ixer)
Peter Johnson	....	construction manager
Andy Ludford	....	dressing props
Steve Macdonald	....	standby props (as Steve McDonald)
Kieron Mcnamara	....	supervising prophand (as Kieron McNamara)
Richard Miller	....	painter
Phil Perry	....	storyboard artist
Bryan Pollard	....	carpenter
Mickey Pugh	....	props hand
Susan Ross	....	scenic artist
Graham Thomas	....	construction manager
Barry Tracy	....	scenic artist
Toby Troyna	....	dressing props
Ian Tully	....	production buyer
Kevin White	....	carpenter
Mickey Woolfson	....	property master
Colin Worrall	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Ricky Butt	....	foley artist
Phil Cape	....	sound assistant
Dan Dewsnap	....	sound maintenance
Roger Dobson	....	dialogue editor
Paul William Edwards	....	foley editor
Tony Gibson	....	sound effects editor
Scott Jones	....	dubbing mixer
Nina Khan	....	audio post-production manager
Mitch Low	....	production sound mixer
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist
Billy Maloney Jr.	....	foley editor
Stefano Marchetti	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Darren McQuade	....	dialogue editor
Matt Pochetino	....	assistant foley mixer
Jess Richards	....	sound assistant (as Jessica Richards)
Chris Sturmer	....	sound consultant: dolby
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Ted Swanscott	....	foley artist
Trevor Swanscott	....	foley mixer
Keith Tunney	....	sound recordist: additional photography

Special Effects by
Vesna Giordano	....	silicone technician
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses

Visual Effects by
Erik Anderson	....	visual effects artist
Fredrik Averpil	....	visual effects
Håkan Blomdahl	....	visual effects
Anders Hakansson	....	visual effects artist
Peter Holmgren	....	visual effects artist
Andreas Hylander	....	visual effects
Mathias Larserud	....	visual effects
Linus Lindbalk	....	visual effects
Anders Muammar	....	visual effects artist
Katie Shahrokh	....	digital post-production manager
Jacob Svensson	....	visual effects artist
Daniel Swahn	....	visual effects artist
Sean Wheelan	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Nicholas Daines	....	stunt double
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Bassnett	....	grip assistant
Jon Best	....	additional electrician
Richard Bevan	....	camera
George Bland	....	epk
Paul Brown	....	rigging gaffer
Kristen Budd	....	b camera trainee
Roy Carter	....	additional rigger
Rikki Cookson	....	additional electrician
John Cooling	....	additional rigger (as John 'Buzz' Cooling)
James Cronly	....	camera trainee: additional photography
Mark Dempsey	....	second assistant camera
Charlie Dillion	....	additional rigger (as Charlie Dillon)
Warwick Drucker	....	grip
Toby Eedy	....	camera
Birgit Elsaesser	....	still photographer
Ben Gibb	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Dave Glossop	....	rigger (as David Glossop)
Stacey Hancock	....	crane technician
Nigel Hillier	....	still photographer
Len Holt	....	additional electrician
Stuart Hurley	....	electrician (as Stuart 'Sid' Hurley)
Stuart Hurley	....	generator operator (as Stuart 'Sid' Hurley)
Naresh Kaushal	....	camera trainee (uncredited)
Tony Kay	....	first assistant camera: second unit
David Leigh	....	crane operator
Ken Lowe	....	rigging gaffer
Phil Mangan	....	additional grip
Simon Marsh	....	electrician
Simon Marsh	....	generator operator
Lee Martin	....	rigging gaffer
Terry Maskell	....	best boy
Andy McBrearty	....	gaffer
Danny Merton	....	camera trainee
Mike Prior	....	additional electrician
Terry Robb	....	additional electrician
Howard Roe	....	additional electrician
Colin Simkiss	....	additional electrician
Dave Smyth	....	additional rigger
Paul Tanner	....	additional still photographer
Clive Turker	....	crane technician
Oliver Upton	....	still photographer (as Ollie Upton)
John Watters	....	director of photography: second unit
John Watters	....	first assistant camera
Lee Wiseman	....	best boy

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alison James	....	stand-by costumes
Sussie Juhlin	....	costume trainee (as Sussie Juhlin-Wallen)
Fiona McCann	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Andrew Dearnley	....	digital intermediate film supervisor
Justin Eely	....	on-line editor
Mark Foligno	....	digital intermediate mastering
Dave Goodall	....	digital intermediate technician
Matt James	....	digital intermediate technician
Steve Knight	....	digital intermediate technician
Connan McStay	....	digital intermediate on-line editor
Steve Milne	....	digital intermediate mastering
Andy Richards	....	senior digital intermediate technician
Gemma Townsend	....	digital intermediate technician

Music Department
Niall Acott	....	score engineer
Marcia Crayford	....	orchestra leader
James Gosling	....	additional orchestration
Seanine Joyce	....	additional orchestrator
Bradley Miles	....	additional orchestration
Steve Parr	....	score mixer
Simon Whiteside	....	conductor
Simon Whiteside	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
John Betteridge	....	unit driver
Arnold Clarke	....	vehicle hirer
Mike Duchars	....	flatbed driver
Andrew Duncan	....	action vehicle coordinator
Christian Hall	....	flatbed driver (as Chris Hall)
Ade Holland	....	unit driver
Alan Jubb	....	driver: minibus
Stephen King	....	unit driver
Graham Pearson	....	unit driver
Alan Rogers	....	transportation captain
Paul Watson	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Farah Abushwesha	....	production coordinator: additional photography unit
Faye Alexander	....	production trainee
Michelle Binieda	....	assistant accountant
Len Brown	....	film consultant
Nick Cain	....	for Isle of Man Film
Sally Caplan	....	head of premiere fund: UKFC
Jake Cieslek	....	caterer
Warren Clark	....	security
Francesca Cooper	....	caterer
Hilary Dugdale	....	for Isle of Man Film
Peter Eardley	....	production accountant
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UKFC
Andrew Fingret	....	legal advisor: Isle of Man Film
Nardia Hall	....	production trainee
Gwyneth Harrison	....	unit nurse (as Gwineth Harrison)
Richard Hart	....	operations director
Vinnie Holden	....	head of production finance: UKFC (as Vince Holden)
Adam Hughes	....	production coordinator
Ian Hughes	....	assistant production coordinator (as Ian 'Pebbles' Hughes)
Søren Kloch	....	film supervisor (as Soren Kloch)
Emma Lightbody	....	for Gasworks Media
J.J. Lousberg	....	production executive: UKFC
Stan Milne	....	stand-in
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UKFC
Mohammed Nawaz	....	unit nurse
Peter Scholes	....	caterer
David Seaton	....	location manager
Camilla Shepherd	....	location manager: additional photography unit
Danuta Skarszewska	....	script supervisor
Maxine Stanley	....	post-production accountant
Kerry Stringer	....	production trainee
Sian Sutherland	....	location manager

Thanks
Jörg Schweizer	....	special thanks: BMW Group

Production Companies

• Isle of Man Film (present)
• UK Film Council (present)
• Screen Yorkshire (present)
• Steel Mill Pictures

Distributors

• Pathé (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Screen Gems (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2008) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Filmgate (visual effects)

Other Companies

• BMW  cars furnished by (as BMW Group)
• Drew & Co.  legal
• Fatts  post-production script services
• Filmgate  visual effects
• Molinare Studio  post-production facilities
• MovieScore Media  soundtrack
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Paul Hylett Special Make-Up Effects  special make-up effects
• Titan Grips  camera and grip equipment

Also Known As:

Bienvenue au cottage (France) [fr]
Cabana Macabra (Brazil) [pt]
Kalosilthate sti... matomeni agroikia (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
Kulübe (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Un oscuro secreto (Argentina) (DVD title) [es]

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | UK:18 | Australia:R (2008) | Australia:R | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | USA:Unrated | New Zealand:R16 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Isle of Man

Company:

Isle of Man Film

Trivia:

According to director Williams, Tracey was originally written as a 40-year-old character but, to get the finance, he was told to cast someone young.

Goofs:

Continuity: When David drives to the nearby village to make the phone call he parks his car facing the opposite direction he is to return. After the call and after his encounter with the village folks he returns to his car and drives off without reversing his car. The car was automatically reversed.

Movie Connections:

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Leatherface Farmer

When David (Andy Serkis) and his clumsy brother Peter (Reece Shearsmith) kidnap the daughter of a powerful gangster, they bring Tracey (Jennifer Ellison) to a cottage in the countryside in the trunk of their car. Peter calls Tracey's father and asks a ransom of one hundred thousand pound to be delivered to her step-brother Andrew (Steve O'Donnell). When the bag is delivered to the moron Andrew, he does not check the content and is followed to the remote location by two Chinese hit-men hired by Tracey's father. When the abductors discover that the bag has only paper, David drives to a nearby village to make a phone call to demand the money. When he returns, he finds Andrew fainted and later that Tracey had reverted the situation and escaped with his brother as hostage. Meanwhile an insane and deformed farmer has just killed the killers and Tracey and Peter are heading to his farmer seeking a phone to call her father.

I had a great expectation with "The Cottage" but I found it disappointing. The black-humor never works except in the two very last scenes (in the end of the credits there is a last one). The characters Peter and Andrew are stupid and annoying and the psychopath serial-killer is a rip-off of Leatherface. In the end I found this movie only reasonable and my vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Cabana Macabra" ("Macabre Cottage")