The spooky season is upon us and if you’re not looking to spend your Halloween trick-or-treating in your Deadpool and Wolverine outfit, then why not spend the scariest day of the year watching Showmax’s new action-packed local film The Fix?
The Fix Promises Halloween Thrills
Set in a dystopian Cape Town future struggling with toxic air, The Fix, which premiers on Showmax on Halloween, stars Grace van Dien as a model who takes a new designer drug at a party and suffers a shocking transformation. Viewers may recognize Grace from Stranger Things as she played the cheerleader Chrissy in the show’s fourth season.
While the film is set to première on Halloween night, I’d wager to say that viewers may not find the latest film as blatantly frightening as Grace’s past work in Stranger Things. However, as the film follows Grace’s character, Ella, being pursued by forces with competing interests in the drug’s effects, it shows that there are scarier things in life than the monsters under your bed.
Now while Stranger Things may have immersed her in the horror genre, Grace admits that the latest local film is more of her style,
“Years ago, when I first signed with my manager, he was like, ‘What kind of roles do you want to play?’ And I just very blatantly was like, ‘Sci-fi. That’s all I want to do.’ When this came around, with an incredible heroine at the helm, I was like, ‘I have to. I need it.’ It’s all I wanted.”
In the film, Ella discovers that her mutations could save the human race. Yet she also has to face off with Eric O’Connors, the chairman of pharma giant Aethera, who sells a cure for the toxic air to those who can afford the daily dose. Unfortunately, in this future most can’t—sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it?
Aside from the harsh disparities of medical costs, the film also subtly touches on the potential effects of climate change, which we’re already facing. It sheds light on the future reality of our actions and how the powers that be prioritize profit over people.
Is anything scarier than that?
Corporate Greed and Climate Change
Daniel Sharman, who played Troy in Fear The Walking Dead and Isaac in Teen Wolf, plays O’Connors in the film, with the character representing the evil side of corporate ambition. That said, Sharman admits that he was intrigued by the character of Eric,
“He’s a father and a businessman who has his troubles as well as ferocious ambition, and yet a very strong moral code in some respects. I always like characters that have a lot of contradictions.”
Regarding the film’s script and direction, Sharman had nothing but praise for writer-director Kelsey Egan,
“She takes big swings and commits to the worlds she creates. I know The Fix was written before Covid-19, so it just shows her imagination and instincts are really on point. She’s fascinated by how humans react and what constitutes human nature, rather than nurture. Whatever people get out of The Fix will be because she asks those big questions in her writing.”
Grace, who is currently at #212 on IMDb’s STARmeter, echoed her co-star’s comments, adding that Egan’s dedication to her vision is beautiful.
In addition, Grace also has rightful praise for the local stunt team, led by Gideon Van Schoor (Raised by Wolves).
“Ella is a badass, but mainly because of the people who choreographed her movements and fighting technique. I’m so grateful to them.”
Get Your Fix This Halloween
Grace and Daniel co-star opposite Clancy Brown (John Wick 4, The Penguin) and local stars like SAFTA nominee Keenan Arrison (Binnelanders), Nicole Fortuin (Alles Malan), Fleur du Cap winner Tafara Nyatsanza (Beast, Blood & Water), Young Artist Award winner Caleb Payne (The Kissing Booth, Warrior), Robyn Rossouw (Arendsvlei, Summertide) and Tina Redman (Ludik, Savage Beauty).
The film was the opening night film at MIPAfrica and the closing night film at Chattanooga, where it won the Dangerous Visions Awards,
“When you lay your eyes on South African filmmaker Kelsey Egan’s thrilling sci-fi/action/body horror concoction, The Fix, you’ll immediately understand why we knew this had to be our 2024 Closing Night Selection. We love this movie, from its killer lead performance by the wonderful Grace van Dien to its wild dystopian world and fantastic mutation effects.” – Chattanooga.
After its première on Showmax at Halloween, Gravitas Ventures will be releasing the 16 LVD film in the US, Canada and select international territories on 22 November 2024.
So, if you’re looking for a particular fast-paced sci-fi treat whose scares are more subtle than overt, then make sure to log into Showmax this Halloween.
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