The Devil's Rock
Encyclopedia
The Devil's Rock is a 2011 New Zealand horror film directed by Paul Campion
, written by Paul Finch, Paul Campion and Brett Ihaka and starring Craig Hall
, Matthew Sunderland
, Gina Varela and Karlos Drinkwater. It is set in the Channel Islands
on the eve of D-Day about two New Zealand commandos who discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash a demon to win World War II
, and combines elements of a war film and a supernatural horror film.
) and Sergeant Joe Tane (Karlos Drinkwater) paddle to Forau Island, landing on a beach covered in anti-personnel mines and tank traps. They leave the beach and head inland, walking through woods when they hear distant screaming and gunfire. They approach a German fortification and hear what they think is a man being tortured. They climb down into a large gun pit and place explosives on a large artillery gun, but are disturbed when a German soldier (Luke Hawker) runs out of a tunnel pleading for help. Grogan stabs the soldier in the head and kills him. They hear a woman screaming, and Grogan decides to investigate, with Tane later following him. Tane ends up killed by an unseen German, while Grogan is captured and knocked unconscious.
Grogan wakes and is briefly tortured by a Nazi, Colonel Meyer (Matthew Sunderland
), who wants to know his mission. During the interrogation, a woman is heard screaming from another room. Grogan eventually escapes and chases Meyer into the tunnels, shooting and injuring him. Grogan follows the sound of the woman up to a room covered in occult symbols. He finds a chained woman (Gina Varela), who reveals herself to be his dead wife, Helena. Meyer enters the room and shoots Grogan in the leg, then shoots Helena in the head, apparently killing her. Grogan attacks Meyer, who explains the woman is a demon, summoned up from a book of black magic found on the island. Meyer proves this by offering Helena the leg of a dead German. She comes back to life and changes into the demon as she eats the leg.
After Grogan removes a bullet, Meyer recovers and explains the demon is a shapeshifter and a weapon the Germans plan to use against the Allies. However, they realised the demon poses a world threat, so they keep it confined. Meyer offers to give the book to Grogan if he will help Meyer escape from Germany. Meyer then persuades Grogan to help him perform a ritual to dispel the demon back to Hell, but Meyer betrays Grogan at the end of the ritual. The demon devours Meyer but cannot harm Grogan because he stole the protective incantation against the demon from Meyer. Unable to complete the ritual, Grogan takes the book and leaves the demon behind, to prey on any Germans that come to investigate. One does fall prey during the closing credits.
. Although set in Europe, filming was done in Wellington
, New Zealand, on sets built at Island Bay Studio, and on location at Breaker Bay, and Wrights Hill Fortress
, a semi-restored World War II
hilltop fortification. Filming took place over 15 days in August 2010. Special makeup effects for the film were created by Weta Workshop
.
, the German fortification
s and Guernsey
's history of witchcraft and the occult, including the existence of the Bad Books, books of black magic, copies of which can be found in two libraries in the Channel Islands
.
When Grogan and Tane hear screaming from within the fortification, Grogan thinks it is other allied commandos who are being tortured: "You know what they did to Blondie's men in Bordeaux" - a reference to the torture of captured Royal Marines during Operation Frankton
, under the command of Major
Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler
.
As Meyer ties Grogan's thumbs with a piece of wire to torture him, Meyer talks about the Allied "gangster commandos, who raided these very islands and killed innocent German prisoners with their hands tied behind their backs," which is a reference to Operation Basalt
, a British Commando raid on Sark where a German prisoner was shot dead whilst his hands were tied, which in turn lead to Adolf Hitler
issuing his Commando Order
, upon which the torture scene in the film is based.
When Meyer is attempting to interrogate Grogan, he taunts Grogan's New Zealand background: "New Zealanders, a bunch of farmers driving around the deserts of North Africa, attacking by night and fleeing to hide like cowards", which is a reference to the New Zealand section of the Long Range Desert Group
.
Meyer also taunts Grogan by insulting the Maoris of New Zealand, which he describes as "the descendents of cannibals and headhunters", which is a reference to a 1940's German radio propaganda broadcast.
The film was released on 21 screens cinemas New Zealand on 22 September 2011.
eOne entertainment bought the North American rights at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Paul Campion (film director)
Paul Campion is an English/New Zealand film director, and screenwriter.-Life and career:Born in England, Campion studied technical illustration at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design. He began his career as a freelance illustrator and was represented by Folio Artists Agents in London...
, written by Paul Finch, Paul Campion and Brett Ihaka and starring Craig Hall
Craig Hall (actor)
-Film:* Siren as Soldier* Savage Honeymoon as Dean Savage* The World's Fastest Indian as Antarctic Angel* King Kong as Mike* Perfect Creature as Dominic* Knife Shift as Shane...
, Matthew Sunderland
Matthew Sunderland
Matthew "Matt" Sunderland is a New Zealand actor. He performed the lead role of David Gray in the feature film Out of the Blue, based on the events of the Aramoana Massacre...
, Gina Varela and Karlos Drinkwater. It is set in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
on the eve of D-Day about two New Zealand commandos who discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash a demon to win World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and combines elements of a war film and a supernatural horror film.
Plot
On 5 June 1944, commandos are sent to the Channel Islands on sabotage and distraction raids, to draw Hitler's attention away from Normandy. At night, two New Zealand soldiers, Captain Ben Grogan (Craig HallCraig Hall (actor)
-Film:* Siren as Soldier* Savage Honeymoon as Dean Savage* The World's Fastest Indian as Antarctic Angel* King Kong as Mike* Perfect Creature as Dominic* Knife Shift as Shane...
) and Sergeant Joe Tane (Karlos Drinkwater) paddle to Forau Island, landing on a beach covered in anti-personnel mines and tank traps. They leave the beach and head inland, walking through woods when they hear distant screaming and gunfire. They approach a German fortification and hear what they think is a man being tortured. They climb down into a large gun pit and place explosives on a large artillery gun, but are disturbed when a German soldier (Luke Hawker) runs out of a tunnel pleading for help. Grogan stabs the soldier in the head and kills him. They hear a woman screaming, and Grogan decides to investigate, with Tane later following him. Tane ends up killed by an unseen German, while Grogan is captured and knocked unconscious.
Grogan wakes and is briefly tortured by a Nazi, Colonel Meyer (Matthew Sunderland
Matthew Sunderland
Matthew "Matt" Sunderland is a New Zealand actor. He performed the lead role of David Gray in the feature film Out of the Blue, based on the events of the Aramoana Massacre...
), who wants to know his mission. During the interrogation, a woman is heard screaming from another room. Grogan eventually escapes and chases Meyer into the tunnels, shooting and injuring him. Grogan follows the sound of the woman up to a room covered in occult symbols. He finds a chained woman (Gina Varela), who reveals herself to be his dead wife, Helena. Meyer enters the room and shoots Grogan in the leg, then shoots Helena in the head, apparently killing her. Grogan attacks Meyer, who explains the woman is a demon, summoned up from a book of black magic found on the island. Meyer proves this by offering Helena the leg of a dead German. She comes back to life and changes into the demon as she eats the leg.
After Grogan removes a bullet, Meyer recovers and explains the demon is a shapeshifter and a weapon the Germans plan to use against the Allies. However, they realised the demon poses a world threat, so they keep it confined. Meyer offers to give the book to Grogan if he will help Meyer escape from Germany. Meyer then persuades Grogan to help him perform a ritual to dispel the demon back to Hell, but Meyer betrays Grogan at the end of the ritual. The demon devours Meyer but cannot harm Grogan because he stole the protective incantation against the demon from Meyer. Unable to complete the ritual, Grogan takes the book and leaves the demon behind, to prey on any Germans that come to investigate. One does fall prey during the closing credits.
Cast
- Craig HallCraig Hall (actor)-Film:* Siren as Soldier* Savage Honeymoon as Dean Savage* The World's Fastest Indian as Antarctic Angel* King Kong as Mike* Perfect Creature as Dominic* Knife Shift as Shane...
as Captain Ben Grogan - Matthew SunderlandMatthew SunderlandMatthew "Matt" Sunderland is a New Zealand actor. He performed the lead role of David Gray in the feature film Out of the Blue, based on the events of the Aramoana Massacre...
as Colonel Klaus Meyer - Gina Varela as Helena/The Demon
- Karlos Drinkwater as Sergeant Joe Tane
- Luke Hawker as Private Muller
- Jonathan KingJonathan King (film director)Jonathan King is a film director from New Zealand. He is the son of historian Michael King and brother of author Rachael King.- Biography :...
as Suicide German - Hadyn Green as Dead German
- Jessica Grace Smith as Nicole
- Geraldine Brophy as the Voice of the Demon
Production
The film was produced by New Zealand producer Leanne Saunders and co-funded by the New Zealand Film CommissionNew Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films...
. Although set in Europe, filming was done in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand, on sets built at Island Bay Studio, and on location at Breaker Bay, and Wrights Hill Fortress
Wrights Hill Fortress
Wrights Hill Fortress is a counter bombardment coastal artillery battery in the Karori suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It was built between 1942 and 1947 and is predominantly underground, with numerous tunnels linking the war shelters, gun emplacements, magazines, plotting rooms and engine room...
, a semi-restored World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
hilltop fortification. Filming took place over 15 days in August 2010. Special makeup effects for the film were created by Weta Workshop
Weta Workshop
Weta Workshop is a special effects and prop company based in Miramar, New Zealand, producing effects for television and film.Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger as RT Effects, Weta Workshop has produced creatures and makeup effects for the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys...
.
Historical references
The film contains references to real historial events: Director Paul Campion based the story around the German Occupation of the Channel IslandsOccupation of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark...
, the German fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s and Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
's history of witchcraft and the occult, including the existence of the Bad Books, books of black magic, copies of which can be found in two libraries in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
.
When Grogan and Tane hear screaming from within the fortification, Grogan thinks it is other allied commandos who are being tortured: "You know what they did to Blondie's men in Bordeaux" - a reference to the torture of captured Royal Marines during Operation Frankton
Operation Frankton
Operation Frankton was a commando raid on shipping in the German occupied French port of Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay during the Second World War. The raid was carried out by a small unit of Royal Marines known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment , part of Combined Operations.The plan was...
, under the command of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler
Herbert Hasler
Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert George "Blondie" Hasler, DSO, OBE was a distinguished Royal Marines officer in World War II, responsible for many of the concepts which ultimately led to the post-war formation of the Special Boat Service...
.
As Meyer ties Grogan's thumbs with a piece of wire to torture him, Meyer talks about the Allied "gangster commandos, who raided these very islands and killed innocent German prisoners with their hands tied behind their backs," which is a reference to Operation Basalt
Operation Basalt
Operation Basalt was a small British raid conducted during World War II on the German occupied British Channel Island of Sark.On the night of 3–4 October 1942 ten men of the Special Operations Executive's Small Scale Raiding Force, and No...
, a British Commando raid on Sark where a German prisoner was shot dead whilst his hands were tied, which in turn lead to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
issuing his Commando Order
Commando Order
The Commando Order was issued by Adolf Hitler on 18 October 1942 stating that all Allied commandos encountered by German forces in Europe and Africa should be killed immediately, even if in uniform or if they attempted to surrender...
, upon which the torture scene in the film is based.
When Meyer is attempting to interrogate Grogan, he taunts Grogan's New Zealand background: "New Zealanders, a bunch of farmers driving around the deserts of North Africa, attacking by night and fleeing to hide like cowards", which is a reference to the New Zealand section of the Long Range Desert Group
Long Range Desert Group
The Long Range Desert Group was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The commander of the German Afrika Corps, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, admitted that the LRDG "caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength".Originally called...
.
Meyer also taunts Grogan by insulting the Maoris of New Zealand, which he describes as "the descendents of cannibals and headhunters", which is a reference to a 1940's German radio propaganda broadcast.
Release
Metrodome bought the UK rights in 2010 while the film was still in post production. The film was released theatrically and simultaneously on VOD on 8 July 2011, and on DVD on 11 July 2011.The film was released on 21 screens cinemas New Zealand on 22 September 2011.
eOne entertainment bought the North American rights at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
External links
- The Devil's Rock at Paul Campion's website
- Festung Guernsey - German Fortifications of Guernsey