PAINKILLERS marks the second feature film from Taiwanese-American filmmaker Roxy Shih, whose debut feature ‘The Tribe’ won multiple awards on the festival circuit. Shih also recently completed directing ten episodes of Dark / Web (Julie Benz, Hannah Marks), an upcoming sci-fi anthology that explores the problems with living in a totally connected world.
Roxy Shih comments,“I don’t think PAINKILLERS is something that people have seen before; we use paranormal elements as mechanisms for the story, but at the heart of it we deal with very real themes of grief and coping with addiction. I look forward to seeing how audiences react to more genre-hybrid films like this, I’m really proud!”
Giles Daoust wrote the script, which received several awards and nominations in festivals and screenwriting competitions. Luke Barnett and Vincent Mascialeproduced the film under their Lone Suspect banner alongside Giles Daoust for Title Media. Mike Macari (The Ring franchise), Alain Berliner (Golden Globe Winner for My Life in Pink) and Catherine Dumonceaux (Title Media) executive produce.
Producer Luke Barnett added, “With so many conversations happening today around the lack of female directors being hired, particularly in the horror genre, we couldn’t be prouder to have hired Roxy Shih. We all feel very strongly she’s about to be one of the most in demand young directors in town”
After a terrible car crash in which his son dies, brilliant surgeon John Clarke, tormented by guilt, becomes prey to an unbearable physical pain. While his marriage starts disintegrating, John soon finds out that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood. When he encounters Herb Morris, a man who claims he can help him get his life back, John embarks upon a nightmarish journey through which he will either have to come to terms with his pain… or become a monster.
