Production begins on POPULATION PURGE, a post-apocalyptic horror/thriller, starring Jim France (STARGIRL), Ameerah Briggs (SPLIT), S. Lamar Wilson (THE NEGOTIATOR), Anthony Vaughan-Shaw (TEARS OF THE SUN), Peter Holland (BECOMING ABE), Lyndsey Soto (THE 31), Rebecca DeRienzo (NEGATIVE EXPOSURE) and Eric Gravez (THE BLACKLIST).
Filming on location in the Carolinas, POPULATION PURGE is the feature film debut of director Brian Johnson (cinematographer of the Emmy-winning feature documentary PISTOL PETE), being produced by his company 1130 Media Group. He also co-wrote the screenplay with screenwriter Toby Osborne (VIRGINIA OBSCURA).
Johnson has spent over 30 years behind-the-scenes in the entertainment industry and recently directed the short film UNCLE OTTO’S TRUCK, based on a story by horror maestro Stephen King, which starred Holland in the title role.
POPULATION PURGE is set in the aftermath of a government depopulation program, which has poisoned the blood of millions of citizens. Peter Holland plays ‘Charlie’ a wildly-eccentric yet immune survivor who must fight to defend his secret sanctuary – and his own sanity – as ‘Onslow’, a tyrannical official played by S. Lamar Wilson, hunts down Charlie for a transfusion of “pure” blood to save his dying son.
With spine-tingling intense terror, mind-bending macabre horror, and powerhouse dramatic performances, all entwined in a twisty dystopic vision; POPULATION PURGE delves into the strange and unnerving underbelly of the apocalypse like you’ve never seen it before.
Peter Holland is a renowned actor of the stage and screen, and a Virginia Governor’s Award nominee for the show MR LINCOLN’S OFFICE. Along with starring as ‘Uncle Otto’ in Johnson’s dark and demented Stephen King short UNCLE OTTO’S TRUCK; Holland has voiced Thomas Jefferson in ALEXANDER HAMILTON: FAVORITE SON and portrayed Abraham Lincoln in BECOMING ABE. He takes on the role of ‘Charlie’, a washed-up actor from New York and a reclusive survivor whose blood is a final lifeline for the poisoned masses.
Meet the Cast
Jim France is a familiar face of film and TV, most recently in the role of ‘Sofus Mahkent’ on STARGIRL, the CW / HBO network’s TV series of the DC comic. France also appeared in the movies WHAT MEN WANT, FATHER FIGURES and SELMA. He is playing the mysterious ‘Malcolm’, who comes to taunt Charlie and expose his deepest fears. Ameerah Briggs appeared with Anya Taylor-Joy in M. Night Shyamalan’s SPLIT, as well as performances in the Bill Moseley film THE CHURCH and EQUAL STANDARD with Ice-T. She is cast in the role of ‘Jade’ who works for the underground blood-auction.
S. Lamar Wilson has guested on the TV series JAG and WALKER TEXAS RANGER, as well as featuring in the F. Gary Gray movie THE NEGOTIATOR. He is also a veteran of the stage, performing in over 30 shows, including in the lead role of ‘Blackbeard’ at Dolly Parton’s ‘Pirates Voyage’. Wilson is cast as ‘Onslow’, the Warden assigned to oversee the remaining inhabitants of ‘District 22’, ruling over them with an iron fist, and he will stop at nothing to save the life of his dying son. Anthony Vaughan-Shaw is known for his role opposite Bruce Willis in TEARS OF THE SUN, in addition to appearances in the TV shows CSI: VEGAS and RAY DONOVAN. He is ‘Hawk’, Jade’s brother and righthand man of the auctioneer.
Eric Gravez has been seen on the Sony / Universal show THE BLACKLIST and Bad Robot / Warner Bros series PERSON OF INTEREST. Gravez plays ‘Roberto’, the auctioneer who runs the illegal blood-dealing operation. Rebecca DeRienzo appeared in the recently released film NEGATIVE EXPOSURE and is playing ‘Naomi’, a struggling nurse at a makeshift medical clinic. Introducing Lyndsey Soto as ‘Maya’, Charlie’s granddaughter who has a heroic streak. Soto has starred in the independent productions THE 31 and THE MIDDLE MEN.
POPULATION PURGE is shooting in December and January, with plans of a 2022 release.
