Mary Elizabeth Winstead To Star In Thriller 'The Darkness'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
February 8, 2012 5:33 PM
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While the buzz out of Sundance on Mary Elizabeth Winstead's performance in the alcoholism drama "Smashed" was overwhelmingly positive, it has yet to build into a enough of a groundswell where the actress will start getting parts for films outside the genre circuit. And thus, Winstead is headed back into the horror/thriller game.

"The Last Exorcism" helmer Daniel Stamm is readying his next effort "The Darkness" and Winstead will star. The psychological thriller, based on Henry James' "Turn Of The Screw," will center on an American student who takes a job working for an English tutor, but comes to believe that she and the children she is looking after are being haunted. Oh no!

"Sunshine Cleaning" writer Megan Holley has penned the screenplay, and we really hope there is some kind of fresh angle being brought to the table here. Movies or TV shows inspired by "Turn Of The Screw" number in the dozens -- the story has been told a zillion times over -- and nothing against Stamm, but "The Last Exorcism" didn't exactly bring much new to that genre either except for the en vogue found footage conceit. But if "The Woman In Black" proved anything, even the most well worn concept can still be fresh, so we'll remain cautiously optimistic.

Shooting will begin this summer in Europe. [ScreenDaily]

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Brad | February 9, 2012 9:05 AMReply

I really hope that this is only the beginning. How it is possible for Mrs. Winstead to be so underused is a mystery to me. She hasn't had a lot to work with in some of her work, but I have not seen a performance of hers that I would deem disappointing. She deserves better roles, and I hope that she can parlay her Smashed success into a sustained worthwhile career.