James Nesbitt starring in new horror film set in Scotland

James Nesbitt's (Cold Feet, Murphy's Law, and the excellent Jekyll) next film role is playing a killer in "Celtic horror film" Outcast. The crew are filming scenes throughout Edinburgh over the next fortnight.

City-based producer Eddie Dick has described it as combining Celtic mythology with gritty realism, and as well as the city centre scenes, much of it will be filmed on housing estates in Muirhouse, Niddrie and Sighthill.

The idea was conceived by Edinburgh-born writer and director Colm McCarthy, who has previously worked on Footballers' Wives and Spooks. He based it partly on his childhood growing up in Craigmillar and persuaded Nesbitt to take the lead role after the pair worked together on Murphy's Law.

The film, a Scottish-Irish co-production, is set to be released in cinemas later this year or early in 2010.

Nesbitt, 44, said he was delighted to return to the city, where he shot the 1996 film Jude.

He said: "I love Edinburgh and it's great to be back. We'll just be here for another couple of weeks. The people are very friendly, the sun is shining and it's St Patrick's Day, so it couldn't be better."

His co-star is the Scottish actress Katie Dickie, who starred in the award-winning film Red Road. She plays Mary, one of the Sidh, an ancient race with magical powers. After her relationship with Nebitt's character Cathal, she flees Ireland with her teenage son, Fergal, played by Niall Bruton. The pair take refuge on an Edinburgh housing estate.

They try to keep their distance from humans, but Fergal becomes attracted to their teenage neighbour, played by young Penicuik actress Hanna Stanbridge.

Mr Dick said: "The story really emerged from Colm's memories of living in Craigmillar.

"It fits very firmly into the horror genre. The thing that gives it its edge is its realistic, urban feel. It's based on the real lives of people on housing schemes in Edinburgh. What we've thrown into the mix is Celtic mythology.

IMDB Synopsis: "It tells the tale of Petronella (a Scottish/Romany girl) and Fergal (her mysterious Irish traveller boyfriend). As their doomed relationship plays out, a Beast stalks the estate, killing locals, working its way towards our protagonists. Meanwhile Cathal and Liam, two mysterious travellers from Ireland use ritual and magic on a blood hunt. Mary, Fergal's mother performs ritual and magic of her own."

It all sounds rather interesting and I thought Nesbitt was brilliant in the Jekyll mini-series.

Source: Filmstalker

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