‘Unnatural selection’
In Vitro is a 2024 sci-fi horror drama film about a woman who discovers the consequences of her husband’s animal breeding technology on a cattle farm.
Directed by Will Howarth and Tom McKeith from a screenplay co-written with Talia Zucker (Lake Mungo), who also co-stars.
The Fictious-Screen Australia co-production also stars co-director Will Howarth (Beast) and Ashley Zukerman (Succession).
Plot:
In a future where ecological disasters have ravaged the agricultural industry, Layla and her husband Jack live in isolation on their struggling cattle farm. While Layla longs for her son who is away at boarding school, Jack experiments with biotechnology that he hopes will save his family from financial ruin. But as unsettling occurrences start to plague the property, their once-loving relationship begins to unravel…
Reviews:
“It will take an attentive viewer about fifteen minutes at most to work out the first twist and when a movie is running behind the audience it can be frustrating. A work not without flaws, but also with some significant rewards – a welcome addition to science fiction filmmaking in Australia. In Vitro is disturbing and magnificently utilises the odd phantasmagoria of the Australian rural landscape to make an impact.” Alliance of Women Film Journalists
“Deploying a minimalist style very effectively, directors Will Howarth and Tim McKeith wind up the tension with consummate expertise, delivering a brace of precisely executed jolts. A terrific Australian movie that will hopefully get the public profile and audience it deserves.” Jim Schembri
“Some narrative threads are left unexplored, while the brooding, patient nature of the story can feel like it drags out a little too long, affecting the pacing of the film […] The story features an interesting concept that backdrops a decent character drama that explores the confronting theme of domestic abuse, brought to life by great performances from Talia Zucker and Ashley Zuckerman.” Novastream
” …this isn’t quite the creature feature you might expect. While In Vitro plays coy with its true nature and is perhaps too hasty in pulling back the curtain, it’s nevertheless a promising new entry into the ever-increasing canon of films ill at ease with how humanity is abusing technology designed to course-correct our self-inflicted problems.” ★★★ Screen Hub
Release:
In Vitro was shown at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2014 and will be released in Australia later this year.
Country of origin:
Australia
Filming locations:
Cooma and Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Technical specs:
1 hour 29 minutes
