PopHorror Let's Get Scared
More details have been released about Level 16, a highly anticipated film we at PopHorror have been following. You may read our Blood In The Snow Film Festival 2018 review here. Level 16 is a young adult dystopia with The Handmaid’s Tale twist. We have more information about this film, including some theatrical release dates. Read on to find out!
From the Press Release:
The walled-in world of 16-year-old Vivien is and always has been the Vestalis boarding school, supposedly a refuge from an outside world rendered toxic. It’s a neglected, antiseptic institution where girls without families are monitored, their day scheduled practically to the minute, and “education” consists of a constantly repeated list of “feminine virtues” – obedience, cleanliness, patience and humility – preached by a matriarch and propagandized in moral-hygiene films.
And, as per her age, Vivien has reached “Level 16” in her education and is ostensibly ready to be adopted by an outside family. But her friend, Sophia, thinks something else is going on at Vestalis, something frightening.
With an atmosphere that evokes The Handmaid’s Tale and George Orwell, Esterhazy’s Level 16 has attracted major attention at genre showcases throughout North America and Europe. It is a dark tale of teens discovering that their world is something very different than what they thought.
Katie Douglas (Mary Kills People TV series) plays Vivien and Celina Martin (The Other Kingdom TV series) plays Sophia. The matriarch, Miss Brixil, is played by Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries TV series), while Peter Outerbridge (Saw VI 2009) portrays Vestalis’ doctor, the creator of the clinic.
A graduate of the Winnipeg Film Group and the Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Lab, Esterhazy (Black Field 2009, H & G 2013) is a fan of genre films, and conceived the plot of Level 16 a decade ago before bringing it to the screen.
Esterhazy says:
“I love genre, so that’s what I wrote and I found myself in rooms where people told me: There’s no market for this film. Women don’t like genre. While I’m sitting right across from them, a lifelong genre fan!
“I researched Victorian etiquette books that provided rules on how to be a good young lady, which should have seemed dated but, often, seemed disturbingly similar to what we are still telling girls today. I also researched religious groups like the Obedient Wives Club, which promotes women’s submission, and that’s completely contemporary.”
Level 16 is produced by Markham Street Films’ Judy Holm and Michael McNamara, along with Stéphanie Chapelle and Sarah Jackson-Inayeh. Holm also served as Executive Producer as did former OMDC manager of industry initiatives, James Weyman.
About Raven Banner Releasing
Raven Banner Releasing is the Canadian distribution arm of Raven Banner Entertainment – a full service company specializing in innovative and compelling genre films from around the world. Past releases include André Øvredal’s The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016 – read our review here), M.F.A. (2017 – read our review here), Don’t Knock Twice (2017 – read our review here), Baskin (2016 – read our review here), Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End (2017 – read our review here), Trench 11 (2017 – read our review here) and Tragedy Girls (2017 – read our review here). Upcoming releases include Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse, and Gaspar Noe’s Climax.
Where to watch the film in theaters in Canada:
TORONTO – March 15 – Cineplex Yonge & Dundas (full week run)
CALGARY – March 15 – Globe Calgary (limited engagement)
OTTAWA – March 22 – Mayfair Ottawa (limited engagement)
WINNIPEG – March 28 – Winnipeg Cinematheque (limited engagement)
More theaters to follow.
If you are not in Canada, fear not! Level 16 is releasing on VOD platforms on March 1st. I am definitely looking forward to this one. I’m intrigued for sure. How about you? Will you be seeing this film? Let us know in the comments! Stay tuned to PopHorror for all your news, reviews, interviews and much more!
