Giant killer zombie kangaroo? Must be Australia.
The new killer wild animal movie was announced a few months ago but didn’t have an American release date. That has changed and so has the title. The movie now to titled Rippy (formerly The Red) is scheduled to get a limited American theatrical release on the same day it drops digitally: October 18.
This will be Ryan Coonan’s feature-length directorial debut. He said that Rippy (aka The Red) is about understanding one’s true worth.
“It explores the conflict between obligation and freedom of choice, the grief of losing a loved one and the lies we tell ourselves, and each other, to protect the memories of those that have passed. It is also about a 7ft tall undead kangaroo, and the start of the apocalypse. ‘The Red’ is a horror comedy film influenced by classic creature features such as ‘The Thing’, ‘An American Werewolf in London’, ‘Jaws’ and ‘Razorback’.
“This story builds on my short film ‘Waterborne’ and my own experiences growing up in a small rural town, where my father was the local cop. The feature film allows us to see much more of Rippy; the iconic undead kangaroo that made the short a viral success. Even bigger and deadlier than before, we will be using the success of Rippy to bring even more thrills and kills to what ultimately is a fun piece that also deals with some dramatically weighty themes.
The film delivers moments of suspense and enough blood and guts to keep the promise of what the short film established. Set in outback Queensland, the sonic landscape will exploit the isolated locations and feature some of the naturally horrific bush and animal sounds that exist in the remote outback. Ultimately, the audience will be drawn into this allegorical world of outback Australia and experience alongside Maddy, the thrills and scares that only a remote setting at night can deliver. Thanks to the authentic small town characters that inhabit this world, ‘The Red’ will deliver genuine horror, punctuated by real moments of pathos, and levity.”
Synopsis:
“Rippy follows the story of young police officer Maddy (Tess Haubrich), who is determined to live up to her deceased father’s legacy. Her courage is put to the test when locals are found brutally ripped to shreds by the zombie kangaroo. As the undead beast leaves a trail of carnage, Maddy, with the help of her eccentric uncle Schmitty (Michael Biehn) and resilient aunt Donna (Angie Milliken), must embark on a high-stakes battle to save the town.”