''Went Up the Hill'' is a 2024 Australian–New Zealand thriller drama film directed by

Samuel Van Grinsven Samuel Van Grinsven is a New Zealand-born Australian film director and screenwriter,Sean Slatter"Samuel Van Grinsven’s ‘Went Up the Hill’ to join Rebel Wilson’s ‘The Deb’ at TIFF" ''IF Magazine'', 23 July 2024. whose debut feature film ' ...

. The film stars Dacre Montgomery as Jack, a man returning to his native New Zealand to attend the funeral of his birth mother, from whom he was taken away and placed into foster care; he meets his mother's widow Jill ( Vicky Krieps) for the first time, only for his mother to return in spirit form and inhabit both Jack and Jill, using each of their bodies to speak to the other.Jesse Whittock
"‘Went Up The Hill’: Ghost Story Starring Vicky Krieps & Dacre Montgomery Wraps Production, Releases First Look Image — AFM"
'' Deadline Hollywood'', 24 October 2023. The cast also includes

Sarah Peirse Sarah Peirse is a New Zealand actress. She works both on screen and stage, best known for her portrayals of two very different mothers — the kind-hearted yet stricken mother Honora Rieper in ''Heavenly Creatures'', and the disaffected sophistic ...

, Arlo Green and Finlay Grey.

Production

The film's casting was first announced in fall 2022, with the film shooting on location in New Zealand in 2023. The film's closing theme song, "Jill", was written and performed by Krieps.Scott Roxborough
"Vicky Krieps Sings ‘Went Up the Hill’ Closing Song Live at TIFF Premiere"
'' The Hollywood Reporter'', 5 September 2024. According to Krieps, she has maintained a practice for a number of years of writing a song about each film character she played, as a way to process and "exorcise" her emotions about the role, but "Jill" marked the first time that the filmmaker had actually placed her song in the movie.

Distribution

The film premiered as a special presentation at the

2024 Toronto International Film Festival The 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival will be held from September 5 to 15, 2024. The festival is slated to open with David Gordon Green's film '' Nutcrackers'', and close with Rebel Wilson's directorial debut film '' The Deb''.Etan ...

. Following the screening, Krieps performed the song "Jill" live in the theatre, accompanied by New Zealand singer-songwriter Merk.

Critical response

Caryn James of '' The Hollywood Reporter'' favourably reviewed the film, writing that "Van Grinsven’s aesthetic choices mirror the mood of the story, and the eeriness comes as much from his technique as it does from any plot turn. At the start, the sound effects by Robert Mackenzie might be wind but also might double as a moan or howl. Especially at the beginning, the cinematographer, Tyson Perkins, plays with focus. The foreground and background shift at times to create a sense of disorientation. And Sherree Philips’ production design is understated and effective."Caryn James
"‘Went Up the Hill’ Review: Vicky Krieps and Dacre Montgomery Are Dazzling in a Poetic Ghost Story"
'' The Hollywood Reporter'', 5 September 2024.

References

External links

* 2024 films 2024 thriller films 2024 LGBTQ-related films 2020s English-language films 2020s Australian films 2020s New Zealand films Australian thriller films Australian LGBTQ-related films New Zealand thriller films New Zealand LGBTQ-related films Lesbian-related films LGBTQ-related thriller films Films shot in New Zealand Films set in New Zealand {{NewZealand-film-stub